9  £4-  ^^^ 


$B    111    2T3 


/ 


X 


K^t  \\eo* 


BEN  ISRAEL; 


OR, 


ROM   UNDER  THE  CURSE. 

%  Itwisli  flag,  '>ji 

IN     FIVE    ACTS,  W- 

BY  EDWJ^FD  W,  TULLIDGE, 

AUTHOR  OF 


The  Plays  of  "Oliver  Cromwell,"  ''Elizabeth  of  England" 
"  Lives' of  Famous  Historical  Characters,"  etc.,  etc. 


STAR   PRINTING   COMPANY, 

HALT   LAKE.  CITY,  UTAH. 

1887. 


I 

i 


BEN  ISRAEL; 


OR, 


FROM   UNDER  THE  CURSE. 

\ 

i 

IN     FIVE    ACTS,  I 


BY  EDWARD  W.  TuLLIDGE, 


AUTHOR  OF 


The  Flays  of  "Oliver  Crom.ivell,''  ''Elizabeth  of  England,'' 
"Lives  of  Famous  Historical  Characters,^'  etc.,  etc. 


STAR   PRINTING   COMPANY, 

v^ALT  LAKE   CITY,  UTAH. 

1887. 


.CAST  OF  CHARACTERS: 


DAVID  BEN  ISRAEL,  a  Jewish  Prince,  decended  from  the  "Princes 
of  the  Captivity." 

SIR  JUDAH,  his  nephew,  agent  of  the  Prince  of  Orange. 

LEVI,  a  trusted  servant  of  Ben  Israel. 

SIR  WALTER  TEMPLAR,  lover  of  Rachel. 

CHARLES  li. 

LORD  HAWKLEY,  a  malignant  plotter  against  the  Jews. 

GABRIEL,  servant-companion   of  Sir  Walter,  who  retains  his  rustic 
simplicities. 

RACHEL,  granddaughter  of  Ben  Israel.  j 

ANNETTI,  her  foster-sister.       ^  \ 

MEG,  godmother  of  Lord  Hawley,  and  a  hater  of  the  Jews.  ! 

REBECCA,  wife  of  Levi.  \ 

AUXILIARIES.  j 

Hebrew  People,  Templar  Men,  Bishops,  Rabbis,  Chief  Justice,  Governor  ' 
of  Prison,  Chaplain,  etc.  1 


Time  :—Beign  of  Charles  IL  Pi.AC^:— London, 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1875,  by 

EDWARD  W.  TULLIDGE, 
in  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


BEN    ISRAEL; 

OB, 

FROM     UNDER     THE     CURSE. 


ACT  I. 

Scene  i — Magnificent  gardens  and  mansion  of  Rachel,  the  singer,  in 
the  suburbs  vf  Lo7idon.  Several  tents  pitched  and  groups  of  Jews 
in  earnest  conversation.  The  subject  is  the  return  of  the  Jews  to 
England  after  a  banishtnent  of  four  hundred  years.  Levi,  a  trusted 
servant  of  David  Ben  Israel,  and  his  wife,  Rebecca,  in  conversa- 
tion in  the  foreground. 

Levi.  I  would  the  remnant  of  our  tribe  were  come.  I  am  not 
trustful  of  the  Christian's  love. 

Rebecca.     Yet  Levi,  hath  the  King  of  England  promised  fair. 

Levi.  So  did  a  Christian  king  give  us  good  quit  of  this  fair  land. 
Bah! — a  Christian's  covenant,  and  to  a  Jew!  When  was  it  kept, 
Rebecca. 

Reb.  Alas,  Levi,  when  was  it  kept.  The  curse  hath  followed  us 
in  every  Christian  land. 

Levi.  'Tis  now  three  hundred  years  since  a  Christian  king  did 
banish  us  from  England's  shores. 

Reb.     More  than  three  hundred  years,  is  it  not,  Levi  ? 

Levi.  Aye,  so  I  think;  may  be  three  score;  yet  I  am  not  certain 
that  it  be  as  much;  but  trouble  me  not  with  thy  questions.  Would 
the  remnant  of  our  tribe  were  come. 

Reb.     I  hear  voices  in  the  distance. 

Levi.     Our  people  come.     The  God  of  Jacob  be  praised. 

Reb.     Nay,  Levi;   'tis  an  alarm. 


mi069 


BEN  ISRAEL. 


[act  1. 


Levi.     Out  with  our  young  men.       The   spoiler   is  upon  us.     {^The 
group  seize  their  firelocks   and  rush   off.)      Ho,  Reuben  !    my   son  ! 
(^Calling  to  one  without.')     Ho,  Reuben,  where  art  thou  ? 
;  {A  Voice  without.)     What,  ho,  old  man? 

^  ecc  '"   '        ^^//^r  Sir  JuDAH  OF  Nassau. 

"Levi.     A  Ghifstiali?     {In  anger  and  disgust) 
Sir  Judah.     Ha,  ha  !     At  thy  call,  Levi.     (^Sardonically.) 
Levi.     I  called  thee  not.       Thou   hast   no   business    in   our  camp. 
{.Sir  Judah  laughs  sardonically  again  at  Levi's  mistaking  him  for  a 
Christain)    Get  thee  gone,  lest  our  young  men  do  thee  harm.    Thou 
art  a  Christian  and  hath  no  business  with  us,  I  say. 

Sir  Judah.  Be  not  angered  good  Levi.  I  am  not  quite  a  Chris- 
tian. But  there  I  will  not  masquerade  at  home.  {Lifting  his  beaver) 
Look  in  my  face,  Levi.      Hath  it  a  Christian  mould  ? 

Levi.  Who  art  thou  ?  I  cannot  recognize  thee.  Mine  eyes  are 
no  longer  sightful.     I  know  thee  not ;  who  art  thou  ? 

Reb.  (who  has  seized  a  flambeau  and  thrown  its  gleam  across  the 
countenance  of  Sir  Judah).  'Tis  Sir  Judah  of  Nassau,  our  master's 
nephew. 

Levi.  Yes,  'tis  the  boy.  I  had  known  thee  Judah,  at  once,  and 
thou  hadst  not  given  our  people  this  untimely  terror  at  thy  coming 
but  for  thy  Christian  garb. 

Sir  Judah.  Why,  man,  look  not  with  such  disgust  upon  my  courtly 
suit;  it  hath  no  moth  nor  mildew. 

Levi.  I  like  not  thy  garb,  Judah.  Nay,  by  our  ancient  covenant, 
I  like  It  not. 

Sir  Judah.  Yet,  Levi,  hath  it  served  our  people  well — aye  well  in 
England,  where  I  most  would  have  it  well 

Levi.     And  yet,  boy,  I  like  it  not. 

Sir  Judah.     Thou  art  too  exacting,  Levi,  in  thine  ancient  ways. 

Levi.  Shame,  Judah !  Despise  not  our  ancient  ways;  they  have 
preserved  our  people. 

Sir  Judah.  As  friend  and  advocate  of  young  Prince  William's  cause, 
I  have  been  welcomed  at  the  court  of  Charles  of  England,  where  had 
I  been  offensive  as  the  Jew,  the  Turk  had  been  a  better  servant  for 
the  house  of  Nassau. 

Levi.  What  !  didst  deny  thy  race  and  faith?  Didst  turn  a  Chris- 
tain  in  the  deed  as  in  the  seeming?  Shame,  Judah,  shame  !  Thy 
apostacy,  boy,  for  the  sake  of  prince's  smiles  will  break  thy  uncle 
David's  heart.  Would  that  our  people  had  turned  their  face  toward 
the  East  and  not  come  hither. 


ACT  1.]  BEN  ISRAEL,  5 

Sir  Jiidah.  Nay,  good  Levi,  I  denied  no  race  and  confessed  no 
faith. 

Levi.  Art  thou  not  known  at  the  court  of  this  Christian  king? 
Thy  uncle,  David,  said  'twas  Judah  who  had  won  us  welcome  here. 

Sir  Judah.  Be  satisfied  with  my  uncle  David's  word  that  his 
nephew  hath  prepared  in  England  a  welcome  resting  place  for  the 
wandering  race,  which  not  even  thyself,  old  man,  loves  better  than 
does  Judah. 

Rebecca.  Our  people  come  !  \^Enter  a  tribe  of  Jews  c.  with  David 
Ben  Israel  among  thetn  in  his  concealed  character.  Rachel  is  lead- 
ing them  into  camp  upon  her  own  grounds  with  a  chorus  of  men  and 
maidens.^ 

We've  hung  our  harps  on  the  willows; 

By  the  rivers  of  Babylon  wept; 
We  wept  when  we  thought  of  Zion, 

But  the  ways  of  our  God  we  kept, — 
Our  Father's  God, 

Who  lifts  the  curse. 
The  curse  is  lifting — 

Lifting  from  our  heads. 

We  take  our  harps  from  the  willows 

And  the  songs  of  our  gladness  resume, 
Nor  weep  when  we  think  of  Zion 

But  the  praise  of  our  God  we'll  tune,— 
Our  Father's  God, 

Who  lifts  the  curse; 
The  curse  is  lifting — 

Lifting  from  our  heads. 

Rachel,  (with  a  standard  in  her  hand.)  These  are  my  grounds. 
Here  pitch  ye  all  your  tents,  O,  men  of  Judah,  and  plant  this  stand- 
ard of  our  royal  race,  {gives  the  standard  to  one  of  the  tribe)  This 
land  be  our  second  Zion. 

David.     A  leader  !     A  leader  ! 

Levi.     A  woman,  yet  with  David's  soul. 

Sir  Judah.     A  spirit  of  the  past. 

Rachel.  Plant  David's  standard  there,  {the  tribe  hesitate.)  What, 
men  of  Judah  do  ye  fear  to  raise  the  standard  of  our  race  ? 

David.     Perchance  it  may  offend  this  Christian  king. 

Rachel.  Wherefore  offend?  'Twas  David's  horn  that  did  anoint 
his  head ;  and  Judah's  emblem  over  this    proud   land  already  waves. 

David.  Maiden,  we  are  not  now  in  our  own  land.  Let  thy  intent 
suffice. 

Rachel,  Nay,  O,  Patriarch  of  Israel,  let  the  standard  this  day 
wave  above  our  people. 


6  BEN  ISRAEL.  [ACT  1. 

David.  Daughter  thou  temptest  me  almost  beyond  the  old  man's 
prudence.  Yet,  child,  were  it  thus  in  our  own  land,  old  as  I  am,  I 
could  not  bid  thee  hold. 

Rachel.  All  lands  are  ours  !  All  lands  are  ours  by  the  very  curse 
which  hath  for  ages  followed  us,  and  destiny  hath  led  us  to  these 
shores. 

David.     The  spirit  of  her  race  hath  fallen  upon  her. 

Rachel.  The  spirits  of  the  mighty  dead  are  moving  me.  Oft  in 
the  silence  of  the  mystic  night,  I  hear  their  voices  speaking  won- 
drous things  of  Israel's  past  and  still  more  wondrous  words  prophetic 
of  his  coming  destiny.  This  was  my  native  land,  O,  men  of  Jacob. 
Orphaned  at  my  very'  birth,  a  Christian  mother  reared  the  Jewess 
child  as  'twere  her  own.  Yet  yearning  for  my  race  I  found  ye  out, 
but  still  was  England  my  dear  native  land,  {taking  the  standard 
back.)  Here  had  I  seen  great  David's  standard  wave,  as  thuugh  he, 
hmiself,  had  sat  on  England's  throne— and  fancied  in  the  ages  long 
since  gone  one  of  our  royal  blood  did  plant  it  thus— as  I  do  here  again, 
O,  England  now — thy  sign  and  ours  1  Bow  to  it  men  of  Judah  ! 
{Picture.      Change. ) 

>  Scene  2. — A  road  near  the  mansion  of  the  Jewess.      Enter  Lord 
Hawkley  and  his  foster-mother,  Meg. 

Huwkley.     Mother  Meg,    take   this  letter  to  Father  Peters,  of  the 
Holy  Order  of  the  Jesuits.     You  will  find  him  at  the  house  of  Tames 
Duke  of  York.  ' 

Meg.     Yes,  my  son;  I  know,  I  know. 

Hawkley.  My  carriage  is  yonder  in  the  road;  and  the  coachman 
has  mstruction  to  drive  you  to  the  house  of  the  Duke  of  York  as  fast 
as  horse  can  bear  you.     Away  mother  Meg  at  once. 

Meg.     Ay,  ay,  my  son. 

Hawk.  Be  fleet  as  the  wind,  and  it  be  possible,  in  your  return  to 
me  with  the  answer  from  Father  Peters. 

Meg,     As  fleet  my  son  as  your  rare  blooded  horses  can  speed  me. 
Hawk.     Away,  then,  mother. 

Meg.  Aye,  my  son  ;  fleet  as  the  wind  will  your  old  foster  mother 
ride  for  you-     {Exit  L.) 

Haivk.  I  discern  some  design  on  my  own  aff-airs  in  Ben  Israel's 
schemes  in  setthng  his  accursed  tribe  in  England,  as  he  has  already 
done  in  Holland.  His  agents  have  pursued  me,  as  though  they  loved 
me,  with  offers  of  heavy  loans,  at  trifling  interest,  until  I  am  involved 
beyond  redeeming.  {Sir  Judah  appears  R.,  recognizes  Hawkley  and 
withdraws.)  And  these  Jews  from  Holland,  who  have  landed  to-day, 
are   those    agents  and  my   creditors.       They   seem,    by  their  humble 


ACT  1.]  ^  BEN  ISRAEL.  7 

manners  and  garbs,  to  be  the  poorest  vagabonds  of  their  hated  tribe; 
but  I  discovered  in  them  my  creditors,  and  know  them  to  be  the 
moneyed  princes  of  Europe.  Yet  this  Ben  Israel  and  his  crafty 
nephew.  Sir  Judah  of  Nassau,  have  designs  on  me.  I  must  consult 
the  Duke  of  York  and  Father  Peters  on  the  matter;  but  be  those  de- 
signs on  me  'A'hat  they  may  I  am  heart  and  hand  with  the  Duke  of 
York  to  have  the  accursed  tribe  again  expelled  from  England. 
{Exit  L.) 

Sir  Judah  of  Nassau  enters  as  Hawkley  exits. 

Sir  Judah,  Yes,  my  Lord  of  Hawkley,  David  Ben  Israel  and  his 
crafty  nephew  have  some  designs  on  thee,  as  thou  sayest;  and  for  the 
reason  that  thou,  aiding  the  Duke  of  York  and  the  Jesuits,  hast  some 
malicious  designs  against  their  people.  How  apt  these  Christians 
are — aye  wise  men  too — who  are  fortified  by  favored  fortune — how 
apt  to  talk  as  they  were  modern  Solomons,  risen  to  shame  our  great 
ancestor — with  proverbs  of  the  cunning  of  the  Jews.  My  Lord  of 
Hawkley,  cunning  is  Nature' s  protection  of  the  weak  against  the 
strong.  So  look  well  to  thy  feet,  my  Lord  of  Hawkley,  for  the  cun- 
ning nephew  of  Ben  Israel  is  on  thy  tracks.     {Change.) 


Scene  3.      Gardens  as  before  in  the  suburbs  of  London.      Court  gal- 
lants, goblets  in  hand,  come  from  one  of  the  bowers. 

Charles.     Gad's  death  1     'Tis  time  we  pledge 
The  hours  of  this  paradise.     So  to  the  Star  of  Judah  ! 

Gallants,     {all  excepting  Hawkley)  The  Star  of  Judah  \ 

Hawkley.     The  Devil  take  the  Jews  ! 

Sir  Judah.   {entering  as  7)ientor  of  the  King  and  agent  from  Holland) 
Amen,  my  lord.     The  Devil  will  take  care  of  them. 

Chas.  Ah,  sir  mentor,  just  from  Holland?  Good.  'Tis  not  be- 
fore  we  needed  thee. 

Sir  Jud.  FrDm  Holland,  sire,  envoy  from  the  States  General  and 
servant  of  your  majesty's  rare  nephew,  William,  Prince  of  Orange. 

Chas.  Ah!  How  is  the  young  Dutch  hero?  Gad's  death  J 
There's  that  about  the  rogue  we  like,  though  he  hath  urged  the  States 
to  war  with  England. 

Sir  Jud.  That  is  because  your  Majesty,  urged  by  your  brother  James, 
takes  up  the  cause  of  France  against  your  Protestant  allies,  the  Dutch., 

Chas.     The  boy  is  mad  and  stands  in  his  own  light. 
Why  sides  he  not  with  Louis  and  with  me. 
Who'll  re-instate  his  house?     We  need  the  help 

Of  France,  but  most  the  gold  of  Louis,  {is  joined  by  Lord  Hawkley) 
What  say  you  to  that,  my  lord  of  Hawkley? 


i 

I 

1 

8                                                         BEN  ISRAEL.                                            [ACT  1.  ; 

Hawk.     To  what,  your  Majesty  ?  \ 

Chas.     Do  not  our  ministers  need  Louis'  gold  ? 

Hawk.     Not  more  than  does  their  king. 

Sir  Jud.     Then  borrow  of  the  Jews,  your  Majesty, 

And  do  not  England's  honor  sell  to  France,  i 

Nor  England  pawn  unto  the  Papal  power.  | 

Hawk.     Keep  guard  upon  thy  tongue.     'Twas  thou  who  didst  " 

Persuade  his  Majesty  to  hive  the  Jews  \ 

In  England  after  we  were  quit  of  them  \ 

Four  hundred  years.  1 

Sir  Jud.     The  bees  make  honey  for  the  land  ; 
I  own  I  did  advise  his  Majesty  to  hive  them  here. 

Hawk.     Now  may  the  Devil  take  the  Jews,  say  I.  ^ 

Sir  Jud.     You  said  it  but  a  while  ago,  my  lord.  j 

Perhaps  your  lordship  hath  forgot  "\ 

The  proverb,  that  the  fiend  cares  for  his  own.  ! 

Chas.     A  truce  to  this  banter.     We  are   here  to   hail  the  queen  of  I 

song  at  her  own  court.     Join  with  your  prince,  gallants.     Hail  to  the  j 

Star  of  Judah— Rachel,  the  enchantress!     {Exit  into  mannon.^  ! 

Courtiers  acclaim  with   the  king  and  follow  him  into  the  mansion  of  \ 

the  Jewess,  excepting  Hawkley,  7vho  directs  his  curse  at  the  house  \ 

Hawk.     Curse  thee,  thou  subtle  agent  of  this  Orange  Prince, 

And  curse  the  Jews,  whom  Rome  hath  more  to  fear  i 

Than  from  the  heretics  about  the  throne.  \ 

And  curse  thee,  too,  thou  royal  fool  f     Would  that  ^ 

Thy  brother  James  now  reigned  in  England.  ; 

Enter  Meg,  cautiously  looking  around.  \ 

Meg.     Hist,  my  son.     Tis  thy  old  god-dame. 

Hawk.     Ha!      Mother  Meg !      Returned?      What  say   the    Holy  \ 

Fathers  ?  , 

Meg.     Of  that  anon.     I  choked   with   rage  to   hear  the  king  drink  \ 

to  this  Jewish  witch,  and  then    to   hear   the   courtiers  shout  as  if  they  ' 
were  about  to  crown  a  queen. 

Hawk.     You  heard  the  king,  then,  Meg? 

Meg.     Ay  !     That  did  I.     A  legion  fiends  possess 
The  fool,  I  say,  for  harboring  the  Jews. 

Hawk.     Ben  Israel  has  my  castle  and  estates  ^ 

Under  his  bonds  well  nigh  to  their  full  worth.  ■ 

Meg.     Thou  shouldst  have  borrowed  of  the  devil  first.  : 

Hawk.     Or  taken  subsidies  from  France.  i 


ACT  1.]  BEN  ISRAEL.  9 

Meg.     Aha!     But  I  will  help  thee  out.     I'll  send 
The  rumor  round  that  Charles  is  'witched  to  love 
The  Jewess. 

Hawk.     Then  may  the  rumor  poison  every  breeze. 

Meg      And  that  she  hath  dark  dealings  with  the  Evil  One. 

Hawk.     Thou  art  as  deep  as  he  in  plotting,  Meg. 

Meg.      Aha  !     Old  Meg  will  work  their  ruin  yet. 
The  holy  fathers  of  the  Jesuits  will  be  witn  us. 

Hawk.     What  said  their  chief? 

Meg,     Caution,  my  son,  there  may  be  prying  ears  about. 

Hank.     Yes,  yes.     We  must  be  guarded  in  our  tongues. 

Meg.     Give  thy  old  mother  wine.       I'm   parched   with  rage, 
And  faint  with  my  long  journeying. 

Hawk.     (^Fetching  goblet  from  bower. ^     Here,  mother  Meg,  is  the 
untasted  wine 
I  would  not  to  the  Jewess  drink. 

Meg.     But  I  will  drink  to  her.       May  old  Meg's  hand 
Pile  fagots  high  around  the  Jewess   for  a  witch.   {Drinks  and  throws 

goblet  away.') 
Now  come  away  with  me. 
And  hearken  what  the  holy  fathers  said. 

Enter  David  Ben  Israel  l.  i  e.,  watching  them  off,  in  his  character 
of  peddler  of  the  co  .  rt, 

David.     (^Retur?iing  to  c.)     Then   is  there  danger   brewing  for  our 
race 
E'en  in  this  goodly  land,  where  I  thought 
Our  people,  worn  with  ages  of  their  wanderings 
Would  find  rest  for  their  feet.      Cromwell  the  Great 
Had  given  us  both  welcome  and  enfranchisement, 
But  he  did  live  before  his  time.     The  needs 
Of  Charles  for  moneys  serve  us  better  now 
Than  did  a  great  man's  tolerance  and  aims 
For  justice  to  our  persecuted  people. 
King  Charles'  passion  for  this  Hebrew  maid 
Hath  served  us  too.     But  from  his  princely  lust 
Ben  Israel's  hand  must  save  the  child. 
And  yet  there's  danger  brewing  'gainst  our  tribe  ! 
If  once  the  Jesuits  obtain  the  sway 
In  England,  then  I  fear  me  much  the  Jew 
Will  have  to  leave  these  shores  again 
And  quit  the  pastures  of  this  thrifty  land. 
The  king  comes  forth.     I'll  watch  and  keep  mine  ears 
As  open  doors.     (^Exit  i..  i   e.) 


10  BEN  ISRAEL.  [acT  1. 

Enter  Charles  with  Rachel /;^^;«  mansion,  to  walk  in  gardens,  fol- 
lowed by  train  of  ladies  and  gentlemen,  who  disperse  over  the 
grounds.     King  co77ies  to  c.  with  Rachel. 

Chas.     Nay,  by  our  royal  word,  the  sun  shone  not 
To-day  till  thy  bright  face  broke  through  the  clouds. 

Rachel.     Fie,  fie,  your  majesty!     I  have  no  taste 
For  dulcet  nothings,  even  from  a  king. 

Chas.     Maid,  by  my  kingly  honor,  I  would  deck 
Thy  fair  brow  with  a  duchess'  coronet. 
To  hear  thee  say  thou  hadst  no  taste  to  list 
To  them  from  other  lips  than  mine. 

Rack.     O,  Sire,  I  am  but  a  simple  maid, — 
An  orphan  child  of  a  despised  tribe. 
Who  does  not  e'en  her  parents  know, — 
And  not  a  lady  of  your  brilliant  court. 

Chas.     Smile  but  upon  my  suit,  and  there  shall  reign 
None  at  my  court  to  match  my  Hebrew  love. 

Rach,     Rachel,  the  singer — never  more  shall  I  be  there. 

Chas.     Yes,  Rachel  with  an  angel's  voice.     Rachel, 
Who  shall  be  queen  of  a  king's  heart,  and  if 
She  wish  it  so,  never  shall  ear  but  his 
List  to  the  notes  of  her  enchanting  voice, 

Rach.     Forbear  !   or  I  at  once  retire. 

Chas.     Nay,  pardon,  lady-love.     At  least  you'll  grant 
Permission  to  Charles  Stuart,  gentleman, 
To  walk  with  you  this  morn. 

Rach.     In  his  plain  character  of  gentleman. 

Cha'^.     It  is  a  bargain,  sweetheart. 

Rach.     Then  will  I  in  to  my  own  doors,  if  thus 
The  gentleman  his  promise  breaks  in  making  it. 

Chas.     I'll  not  offend  again,  fair  lady.     (^Exeunt  l.  u.  e.) 

Enter  Sir  Walter  Templar,  r.  u.  e.,  with  Sir  Judah. 

Sir  W.     I  would  I  had  not  brought  her  to  the  court 
Of  Charles.     This  homage  to  her  genius,  which 
In  Italy  I  dreamt  of  with  such  pride, 
Now  startles  me.     The  wanton  eye  of  Charles 
Is  kindled  to  a  blaze  when  she  appears. 

Sir  Judah.     Does  the  king  know  you  yet  ? 

Sir  W.     Yes  ;  that  it  was 
Sir  Walter  Templar  who  did  educate 
The  Jewess  and  engage  her  for  his  court. 


ACT  1.]        .  BEN  ISRAEL.  11 

Sir  Judah.     But  knows  not  that  you  are  the  man  ? 

Sir  W.     No,  he  but  thinks  me  one  whom  he  permits 
At  court  to  give  her  musical  support. 

Sir  Jud.     I  thmk,  Sir  Walter,  they  did  say  at  Rome 
You  had  a  voice  the  world  could  not  surpass. 

Sir  W.     They  did. 

Sir  Jud.     I  see.     And  you  assisted  her  to  write 
This  Jewish  opera? 

Sir  iV.     I  did.     It  is  my  family  legend,  sir, 
That  Lionel,  the  founder  of  my  house, 
Grand  Master  of  the  Templar  knights,  in  Palestine 
Did  love  and  wed  a  maid  of  Judah's  royal  blood. 

Sir  Jud.     Thou  art  her  offspring  ? 

Sir  W.     I  am. 

Sir  Jud.     'Tis  strange  ! 

Sir  W.     What  is  strange  ? 

Sir  Jud.     Nothing.     Nay,  everything.     It  is  all  mystery. 
This  complex  drama  of  our  mortal  life, 
Which  we  but  poorly  read  at  best. 

Sir  W.     What  mean  you? 

Sir  Jud.     I  know  the  untold  history  of  the  maid. 

Sir  W.     What,  my  ancestress? 

Sir  Jud.     No,  thy  love.     Yet  had  she  been  that  same  princess- 
Who  wedded  Lionel,  the  Christian  knight, 
She  scarce  had  been  more  than  she  is. 

Sir  W.     You  speak  in  riddles. 

Sir  Jud.     I  much  do  err  if  she  be  not  the  lost 
Grandchild  of  David  Ben  Israel. 

Sir  W.     What,  the  Jewish  prince,  of  whom  'tis  said 
He  is  the  last  of  all  his  line? 
Sir  Judah.     The  same. 

Sir  W.     Great  heaven  !     Then  do  the  guardian  angels  of  the  past 
Bring  down  their  links  to  weld  anew  in  us. 

Sir  Judah.     Ah,  there  you  strike  a  mystery 
I  have  not  )et  quile  read. 
But  we  must  look  well  to  the  king. 

Sir  W.     I  will  not  cross  the  king  unless  the  king 
Would  wrong  my  mate.    And  then  let  king  beware  !   ( Exeunt  s..  2  E.) 

Enie^  Gabriel,  l.  i  e. 

Gab.     Yes,  I'll   plague  the  Jew.      'Twill  be  a  right  proper  Chris- 
tian pastime.     My  patron    Gabriel   will  scratch  a  mark  of  good  be- 


12  BEN  ISRAEL.  r^e^  1.  i 

havior  in  his  book  if  I  plague  the  Jew.     Why,  what  are  the  Tews  sent  ': 
into   the   world  for  except   for  Christian  pastime?     Now,  if  I  plague 

the  Jew,  the  fiend  won't  plague  me  with  cramps  and  nightmares  :   nor  ' 

will  witches  rides  me   through   the  air  on    broomsticks.       Yes    I'll  ' 

plague  the  Jew  and  be  saved  for  it.  '  ; 

Return  Old  Meg,  r.  2  e.  ; 

Meg      {Seizing  him  by  the  arm.)     Then  come  with  me  and  I'll  help  ' 

thee  plague  the  Jew.  ^  \ 

Gab.     O  Lord  !    O  Saints  !   O  Mrs.  Belzebub,  have  mercy  and  I'll  \ 

plague  the  Jew.  J 

Meg.     Come  with  me  and  I'll  teach  thee  how  to  plague  the  Jew.  i 

K  ^f;^^'^T'   ^^,^,„^'e"d!      Grace,  good   Fiend!      Let  me  off, 

beautiful  Fiend,  and  I'll  plague  the  Jew.  J 

Me^.     Come  with  me,  fool.  -i 

XT  ^''f  X.  ^^yi  rl'^^P  •     ^^^  ^^"^  ^^"^  '^  g^^"g  to  run  away  with  me.  i 

Help  !  help  !     {He  is  dragged  off  by  Meg,  r.  i.  e.)  i 

Annetti  runs  in  l.  i  e.  i 

Annetti.     Gabriel!      Gabriel!       Where  has   the  simpleton  gone?  s 

Something  has  frightened  him  out  of  the  little  wits  he  has.   But  where  \ 

has  he  hid  himself?     Now  he  would  thrash  half  a  dozen  lusty  rogues  ' 

but  name  a  ghost,  a  goblin  or  a  witch  to  him  and  all  his  wits  will  for-  | 

sake  him  and  his  courage  melt  into  his  heels.  ' 

Gabriel  rushes  in,  blind  with  affright. 

Gab.     Help!   help!    The  foul  fiend  is  flying  away  with  me.    Help'  i 

help  !    {Is  caught  by  Annetti  as  he  is  running  off,  when  he  falls  upon  ^ 

f^^knees)    Mercy,  mercy,  good    Mrs.    Fiend  !      Mercy,  mercy,  Mrs.  \ 

Belzebub,  and  I'll  plague  the  Jew;     I'll  drown  the  Jew  :    I'll  do  any-  i 

thing  to  the  Jew !  ^       ^  /  , 

Ann.     Get   up,  you  simpleton.       Do   I   look   like   Mrs.  Fiend,   or  \ 

Mrs.  Belzebub  ?     Take  that  box  on  the  ear,  you  fool.      Do  you  know  ' 

that  ?  i 

Gab.     Eh  ?    Is  that   you,  Annetti  ?      I  used   to  know   that   signal  | 

before  the  Fiend  ran  away  with  me.  You're  sure  you're  not  the  Fiend  i 

turned  into  my  Annetti.  \ 

Ann.     Blockhead  !     I  say  do  I  look  like  Mrs,  Fiend  ?    I  thought  I  '■ 

was  passingly  pretty,  )et  thou  takest  me  for  Mrs.  Belzebub.  j 

Gab-      Nay,  nay,  Annetti,  not  you.     'Twas   Mrs.   Belzebub  I  took  '■ 

for  the  Fiend.    But  you  are  quite  sure,  Annetti,  you  are  ?iot  the  Fiend  I 

turned  into  my  pretty  sweetheart  ?      Box  my  ears  again,  Annetti.      I  ^ 

know  thy  box  well,  it  hath  such  a  pretty  ring  in  my  ears.  ' 

Ann.     There  then;  there,  there,  there  J 


t 


ACT  1.]                                           BEN  ISRAEL.  13                 '■ 

Gab.     Quarter!   quarter!  quarter!     That'll  do.     My  ears  are  ring-  ] 

ing  chimes.     Yes,  you  are  my  Annetti.  \ 

Ann,     You  like  my  hand,  eh,  Gabriel  ?  \ 

Gab.     Yes,  tis  a  pretty  hand;  a  sweet   pretty   hand;  but   it  would              ^ 

not  be  safe  for  any  other  hand  to  box  me  so;  no    not   even    Mrs.  Bel-  \ 

zebub,  when  my  mettle  is  up.       Oh,    Lord,   oh,   Lord,    there  she   is              ^ 

again.  \ 

Ann.      Who  ?  ; 

Gab,     The  Fiend.  j 

Ann.     Simpleton  !    come   into   the   house.     I  have   some    bottled  i 

spirits  in  my  room  that  will  not  scare  you.       {Exit  into  the  house  of  "'-. 

the  Jewess.^ 

Return  King  with  Rachel,  l.  u.  e.  i 

Chas.  (c)  In  vain,  Rachel,  I  cannot  hold  my  peace,  j 
This  passion  will  consume  me  if  it  find  not  vent. 

Rach.     Oh  persecute  me  not,  I  do  entreat.  \ 

This  suit  dishonors  you — outrages  me.  i 

Chas.     Listen  a  moment,  Rachel,  to  my  love.      ,  ^ 

In  Holland  first  we  met.      I  heard  you  sing,  f^ 

And  loved  you  when  a  fugitive.     Had  I  \ 

Not  been  an  exiled  prince,  I  had  not  left  \ 

The  story  of  that  love  to  tell  to  day.  .= 

Rach.     Sire,  forbear.     What  can  the  Jewess  be  ^ 

To  England's  king.  ] 

Chas.     Queen  of  his  heart !     For  your  dear  sake  the  Jews  i 

I  have  invited  to  these  shores  against  \ 

The  wish  of  zealots  of  each  rival  church,  j 

And  granted  them  protection  of  the  crown.  i 


To  tell  you  this  I  sent  to  Italy 

And  bade  my  agents  bring  you  here  to  sing 

At  court.     Smile,  Rachel,  on  my  love, 

And  I  will  swear  to  you  the  Jews 

Shall  have  in  England  their  enfranchisement. 

Rach.     Profane  not  thus  the  sacred  name  of  love  ! 
Thou  knowest  not  what  love  doth  signify. 
And  knowest  not  the  maid  thou  wooest  thus 
With  wicked  tongue 

Chas.     By  heaven,  I  speak  the  truth.     I  loved  thee  then. 
Yet  dreamed  not  of  this  wondrous  change,     (^kneels)     Rachel, 
Thou  wast  born  to  be  the  consort  of  a  king. 

Rach.     King  of  England, — orphaned  at  her  birth, 
Alone, — without  one  of  her  parent's  kin 


14  BEN  ISRAEL. 


[ACT  1, 


To  own  or  guard  her,  the  poor  Jewess  is 
So  much  above  thy  crowned  head  that  she 
Commands  thee,  rise  !  nor  longer  thus 
With  wanton  homage  humble  her. 

Chas.     Thy  words  have  stung  me  to  my  feet  and  made 
The  king  remember  who  he  is,  and  who 
The  singer  Rachel  is.     Ah  !  she  is  but 
The  outcast  Jewess  still, — is  in  our  realm, 
A  subject  of  the  king,  in  the  king's  power. 

Rack.     Then,  king,  will  I  invoke  the  aid  of  one 
Who  will  protect  me  from  thy  lawless  hands. 

Chas.     Sir  Walter  Templar  hath  proclaimed  himself. 

Rack.      Ah ! 

Chas.     You  saw  him  speak  to  me  but  now  ? 

Rach.     Yes,  yes.     i^Aside)  Then  have  1  cause  to  fear  this  king. 

Chas.     Sir  Walter  hath  defied  me, — threatened  me. 

Rach.     Oh!     Would  I  were  hence 

C/z^s.     You  see,  Rachel,  how  much  I  heed  him. 

Rach.     Remember,  king,  he  is  the  son  of  him 
Who  moved  all  England  "gainst  thy  father's  tyrannies, 
As  he  would  move  'gainst  thyself  did  harm 
But  come  to  me. 

Chas.     Now  mark  me,  Rachel  :   if  it  nteds  must  be 
I  will  lemove  Sir  Walter  from  my  path 
By  banishment  and  find  the  cause  for  it. 
Yet  do  1  think  the  path  is  clear. 
He  has  returned  unto  his  native  land 
To  wed  his  cousin.      So,  my  queenly  maid. 
Better  the  consort  of  a  married  king 
Than  mistress  of  a  wedded  baronet. 

Rach.     God  of  my  Fathers,  who  shall  shield 
The  orphan  Jewess  now  ? 

Enter  David,  with  solemn  dignity. 

Dav.      He  to  whom  thou  hast  appeal'd,  my   child 
The   God   of    thy   Fathers  shall   shield   and   succor 'thee?       (Rachel 
rushes  to  the  old  man  for  protection.     He  throws  his  arms  around  her 
and  awes  back  the  king. 

Chas.     Old  man,  hast  thou  been  sp3ing  on  my  track? 
Rach.     Save  me  !     Oh,  save  me  from  the  king  ! 
Chas.     What  is  this  maid  to  thee,  that  'bout  thy  neck 
She  clings?     And  who  art  thou,  that  in  thy  rags 


ACT  1.]                                             BEN  ISRAEL.                                                          15  i 

'\ 

Thus  dar'st  to  wave  me  back  as  if  thou  wert  i 

Thyself  a  king  and  she  thy  ward  ?  ' 

Z>azK      What  is  this  maid  to  me  ?     An  orphan  of  my  race,  1 

Therefore  the  old  man's  daughter,  though  he  be  -i 

The  least  of  all  his  tribe.     And  who  am  I  ^ 

Whose  rags  can  awe  a  king?    A  poor  old  man  ;  ' 

But  virtue  clothed  in  rags  hath  native  majesty  ' 

That  vice  hath  not  tho'  deck'd  in  purple  robes,  ' 

Its  head  encircled  with  a  kingly  crown  !  ': 

Chas.     Begone,  old  man.                                                               ^  ! 

Dav.     Nay,  not  till  I  have  answered  thee.     Thou  saidst  •; 

This  maid  is  but  the  outcast  Jewess  still.  \ 

So  have  her  people  been  outcast                           '  \ 
These  sixteen  centuries.     And  yet  hath  He, 

To  whom  this  child  in  her  defenceless  loneliness  \ 

Appeal'd,  protected  and  preserved  them  to  this  hour —  \ 
Greater  to-day  than  when  their  princes  reign'd 
As  kings  in  Palestine.     Thou  told'st  this  maid 

That  for  the  hope  of  smiles  upon  thy  wicked  suit,  ! 

Thou  hadst  permitted  us,  after  long  banishment,  ' 

To  settle  in  this  land.     If  this  be  so  ^ 

The  humblest  of  this  tribe  will  answer  thee  :  - 

Then,  King  of  England;  take  thy  favors  back, —  ' 

Withhold  from  us  enfranchisement  until  , 

The  day  of  doom,     Rather  than  that  our  sons  i 

Should  cease  to  trust  in  Israel's  God, —  | 

Our  daughters,  chastity  be  given  up  j 

To  Gentile  lust,  as  purchase  of  the  freeman's  rights,  \ 

The  Jews  shall  quit  these  shores  again,  \ 

Their  substance  to  the  spoiler's  greed  devote,  ! 

And  pitch  their  tents  in  some  far  distant  land,  : 

Where  still  fidelity  may  be  our  sons'  j 

Fair  heritage,  and  purity  our  daughters'  dower.  \ 

Enter  Hawkley  and  courtiers  gathered  by   the  impassioned  voice  of 
David,  Sir  Walter  Templar  and^iK  Judah  with  them.  Hawkley 

taking  in  the  situation  at  a  glance,  raises  a  cry  against  the  [ews.  \ 

Hawk.     Quick  !     The  king's  in  danger  !   The  king  is  set  upon 
By  Jews.      I  saw  a  band  of  them  but  now 

Prowling  about.     They  fled  as  I  came  up.  J 

Are  you  hurt,  Sire  ?  i 

Dav.     Fear  nothing  for  your  king,  \ 

He  has  but  been  rebuked  by  this  lone  maid  | 

And  been  confronted  by  a  weak  old  man.  . 

Sir  W.     Come,  Rachel,  we  will  London  leave  at  once;  \ 


16  BEN  ISRAEL,  [aCT  I. 

You  shall  not  breathe  the  pestilential  air 
Of  Charles'  Court. 

Chas.     Beware,  Sir  Walter,  how  you  cross  my  path  ? 
Sir  U^.     Beware,  sir  King,  and  do  not  cross  my  love  ! 

Sir  Walter   is  leaving    with   Rachel  whe?i  David  intercepts  them 

Dav.     Stay,  daughter  of  my  people  ! 
I  know  of  one  whose  claim  to  guard  thee  stands 
The  first :      I  mean  thy  grandsire. 

Each.     My  grandfather  !    Oh,  where  is  he  ? 

Hawk.     Let  us  begone,  your  Majesty. 
We  have  no  interest  with  this  vagabond. 
Let  Rachel  entertain  her  tribe,  but  we 
Consort  not  with  the  Jewish  herd. 

Dav.     Christian  scoffer ! 
Our  race  were  princes  when  thy  ancestors 
Were  robbers  and  barbarians  \ 

Hawk.     Out  of  ray  way,   dog  of   a  Jew  !      {^He  whirls  him  and 
David  falls.') 
So  do  I  trample  on  thy  Jewish  gabardine, 

Thou  vagabond  of  an  accursed    tribe!     {If alter  and  Sir  Judah   at- 
tempt to  interpose,  but  Rachel  bounds  to  David  ) 
Rach.     Nay  !     Ltt  a  Hebrew  woman,  sirs,  chastise 
This  lordly  ruffian. 

Hawk.     Ruffian  ? 

Rach.     Ay,  ruffian  !     The  conduct  of  thy  king 
I  fain  had  hid.      But  thou  hast  outraged  all 
My  Jewish  blood,  my  people  called  a  herd, 
This  old  man  trampled  'neath  thy  haughty  feet. 
Proud  lord,  the  history  of  my  antique  ra^'e 
Stands  out  the  grandest  theme 
Of  all  the  ages  past,  and  shall  be  theme 
Of  all  the  ages  yet  to  come.      ''Accursed  ?  " 
Yet  to  the  Christian  gave  they  oracles  [ 
How  hath  he  paid  his  debt  of  gratitude? 
Why,  meanly  taken  advantage  of  their  fall. 
Scourged  them  from  land  to  land,  despoiled  them  oi  their  gold. 
And  trampled  on  them  as  thou  did'st  this  good  old  man. 
But  Judah  shall  come  fro7n  u?ider  the  curse 
As  gold  from  the  refiner's  fire.      He  shall 
Redeem  himself,  asking  not  Gentile  grace. 
We've  kissed  the  rod;   but  henceforth,  if  ye  smite, 
Ye  shall  pay  interest  back  for  every  blow, 
And  crawl  at  Judah's  feet  to  beg  his  helping  hand. 


ACT  2.]  BEN  ISRAEL.  17 

These  grounds  are  mine  ;  this  instant  leave. 

Or  I  will  have  thee  driven  hence  as  thou 

Hadst  fain  this  son  of  Israel. 

Go,  unworthy  king  !     Ruffian  courtier,  go  ! 

Bear  with  ye  both  a  Hebrew  woman's  scorn.     {Picture.^ 

END  OF  ACT  I. 


ACT    II. 

Scene  i,  —  The  King's  Closet.      Charles  Discovered. 

Chas.  'Sdeath !  Her  exalted  virtue  provokes  me  to  the  con- 
quest. There  is  a  sublime  earnestness  about  the  Jewish  character  that 
forces  one's  admiration.  These  Jews  are  not  understood.  By  my 
soul,  were  Rachel  my  queen  instead  of  Catharine,  I  think  I  should 
become  a  virtuous  dog  myself.  {knock  at  door.^  Come  in.  {enter 
Judah)  So  'tis  you,  Judah  ?  Have  you  discovered  who  the  Jewess  is, 
and  who  this  old  peddler? 

Sir  Judah.     Not  quite. 

Chas.  Your  mysterious  hint  that  she  is  other  than  she  seems  has 
piqued  my  curiosity. 

Sir  Judah.  To-night  your  majesty  shall  know  all.  fn  the  mean- 
time suppose  we  take  up  your  affairs  with  Louis  of  France.  You  need 
money.  Sire. 

Chas.  Ah!  there  thou  hit'st  me  on  my  sorest  place.  I  must  have 
money  to  be  independent  of  my  Parliament,  and  so,  to  choose  the 
least  of  the  bondages,  I  have  taken  Louis  as  my  banker. 

Sir  Judah.  It  was  not  well  done.  Sire,  for^  if  you  mind  not,  the 
choice  may  cost  a  kingdom.  But  I  have  brought  you  one  who  shall 
relieve  you  from  your  bondage  on  better  terms. 

Judah  goes  to  door  and  admits  David. 

Chas.     How  now  !     The  peddler  of  the  court  ? 
Old  man,  begone  !   or  I  will  have  thee  scourged 
Through  London  streets  midst  hootings  of  the  mob. 

David.     Your  majesty,  men  often  from  their  door 
With  senseless  foot  their  providences  spurn  * 
Thy  dearest  fate  shall  come  patch'd  and  well-worn. 
If  thou  but  know'st  thy  fate  'tis  well :   she  shall 
'Bide  with  thee.     Bid  her  but  begone,  and  she — 


18  BEN  ISRAEL.  [acT  2.j 

The  angel  of  thy  fortune— shall  return  no  more.  ^ 

Shall  she  hence,  Sire,  or  stay?     Thv  fortune  comes  j 

To-day  beneath  my  well-worn  gabardine.  ; 

C/ias.     How  canst  thou  help,  old  man,  a  kingdom's  needs?  ' 

Wert  thou  Ben  Israel,  whose  matchless  wealth  j 

Is  as  the  treasures  of  the  Ind,  thou  might'st.  ! 

Thou'rt  but  a  wandering  knave.  ; 

David.     Yet  hath  my  master  David  sent  me  to  the  kmg  ' 

To  offer  loans  great  as  thy  kingdom's  needs.  . 

Spurn,  Sire,  the  servant,  and  thou  hast  spurn 'd  the  one  ^ 

Who  sent  him.     Wilt  thou  take  my  master's  bond  ?  \ 

Chas.     In  London  none  hath  seen  this  Jewish  prince.  * 

Why  keeps  he  up  this  mystery  ?  \ 

Dav.     It  fits  his  mood.      Wilt  take  his  bond,  I  say  ?  ' 

Chas.     Art  sure  Ben  Israel  will  honor  it  ?  \ 

Sir  Judah.     That  will  I  answer  for.  , 

Chas.     What  are  his  terms,  old  man  ?  \ 

Dav.     Protection  to  the  Hebrew  maid  against  the  king.  \ 

Chas.     By  heaven,  she's  worthy  to  be  queen. 

Dav.     Aye,  queen  ;   but  not,  sire,  worthy  to  be  that  \ 

Thy  love  would  make  of  her.  \ 

Chas.     Well,  well,  old  man;   what  further  terms?  \ 

Dav.     That  our  long  suffering  people  be  allow'd  \ 

To  home  in  England  and  in  England  trade,  ^ 

Protected  by  the  crown,  j 
And  granted  but  the  welcome  countenance 

You'd  give  the  meanest  Christian  stranger.  .1 

If  yet  in  time  to  come,  when  England  shall  have  proof  ^ 

Of  Judah's  loyalty  ;  our  people  be  to  her  ] 

What  the  life's  vessels  are  to  man,  : 

Then  let  the  future  give  u.ito  the  Jew  ; 

Enfranchisement.      Till  then  we  ask  j 
But  for  the  alien's  common  rights. 

Chas.     What,  the  Jew  to  England  as  her  life's  blood  ?  j 

Dav.     This  shall  the  Jew  become  !  ! 

Say,  Sire,  how  stands  it  now  with  thee?     Thy  realm  | 

Is  pawn'd  to  Louis— thyself  a  vassal  king ;  ! 

Thy  fleets  are  crippled  on  the  sea;   the  Dutch  \ 

Again  hold  empire  there.     Yea,  worse :  j 

Thy  people  murmur  and  with  their  reproach  ^ 

Are  deep-mouth'd  threats  heard  rumbling  through  the  land  \ 

As  distant  thunders  on  the  coming  storm.  ^ 
Yet  still  thou  goest  to  the  master  kmg 

Who  holds  the  purse,  and  takes  for  England's  shame  '^- 


ACT  2.]  BEN  ISRAEL.  19 

These  subsidies,  and  in  return  give  aid 
To  France  'gainst  England's  nearest  kin. 
What  Louis  loans  for  England's  shame  shall  be 
By  David  loan'd  for  her  good  honor.     Take 
My  nnaster's  bond  and  henceforth  she  shall  lend 
And  shall  not  borrow.      Here  the  Jew  shall  find 
His  destiny  and  through  him  England  hers, 
And  greatness  reach  beyond  all  precedent. 
The  time  is  coming  when  my  antique  race 
Shall  throw  the  wanderer's  rags  away 
And  Judah  rise,  as  Phcenix,  from  its  dust, 
Here — here  in  England  will  he  find  his  fate. — 
— Your  pardon,  sire,  I  did  but  dream. 
Wilt  take  my  master's  bond  ! 

Ckas.  (^awed)     Old  man,  I  could  have  sworn  I  saw  beneath 
That  ragged  gabardine  an  oracle 
Of  that  grand  race  which  gave,  as  Rachel  said, 
The  Christian  that  of  which  he  loudest  boasts. 

Z>av.     Wilt  take  my  master's  bond  ? 

C/ias.     I  will. 

Daz/.     Then  meet  my  master  David  at  his  house 
To-night,  and  thou  shalt  have  the  moneys 
For  the  interest  of  the  turning  it. 

C/ias.     Why  'tis  a  generous  bond  !     There  is  no  pound 
Of  flesh  exacted  in't. 

Z>av.     (^passionately)  But  if  thou  dost  betray  it  thou  wilt  pay 
Thy  pound  of  forfeit.  King  of  England  ! 
Deal  justly  with  us  and  thou  wilt  have  cause 
To  bless  the  Jew  and  bless  his  bond.     ^Change.') 


Scene  2. — A  Corridor  in  the  house  of  Ben  Israel.       Enter  Gabriel 
«;?^Annetti,  l.  I  E. 

Ann.     Gabriel,  thou  art  a  fool.     Thou  sawest  not  a  witch. 

Gab.  Verily  I  did,  and  thus  it  was:  As  I  was  argufying  how  to 
plague  the  Jew  to  'scape  the  Fiend,  out  of  revenge  as  I  should  say  for 
forgetting  her  sex  the  she  Fiend  darted  down  upon  me  on  a  streak  of 
lightnings  which  she  turn'd  into  a  dragon's  tail,  switch'd  it  around 
my  neck  and  away  she  flew  with  me. 

Afin.     Well,  thou  simpleton,  and  what  then. 

Gab.  Why,  just  then  she  heard  your  voice,  and  got  scared,  and 
she  dropp'd  me  on  a  rose  bed,  or  I  should  have  broken  every  bone  in 
my  body. 

Ann.     Dost  mean  to  say  I  am  so  ugly  as  to  scare  a  witch  ? 


20  BEN  ISRAEL.  [acT  2. 

Gab.     Nay,  nay  that  follows  not. 

Ann,  What  follows  not,  sir?  Now  mind  thy  answer,  Gabriel,  or 
I  will  box  thy  ears. 

Gab.     Why  it  follows  not  that  thou  art  ugly. 

Ann.  Well  sir,  what  does  follow,  then?  Now  Gabriel  be  cautious. 
My  hand  is  ready.     What  follows  ? 

Gab,  That  thou  art  pretty;  to  be  sure  thou  art  pretty.  Let  any 
rogue  say  thou  art  not  pretty  and  I'll  box  his  ears. 

Ann.  Good.  Thy  ears  are  safe,  Gabriel.  But  you  have  not 
answered.     What  follows? 

Gab.  Why  that  you  being  pretty,  and  I  head  and  ears  .in  love  with 
you,  the  Fiend  is  envious  of  your  beauty,  she  being  herself  so  ugly. 

Ann.     Thy  ears  are  safe,  Gabriel. 

Gab.  Now  will];i  serve  the  Jew  spite  of  the  Fiend  and  doubly  to 
spite  that  she-Fiend,  providing,  Annetti  you  will  take  the  name  of 
Mistress  Gabriel  Bramble.  Then,  being  sanctified  by  my  wife's 
witchery,  no  she-Fiend  will  have  a  virtuous  need  of  me. 

Ann.  A  bargain — that  is,  if  thou' It  keep  thy  promise  to  serve  my 
foster-sister  Rachel  and  her  grandfather  until  she  marries  Sir  Walter 
Templar. 

Gab.     But  I  say,  Annetti,  who  is  this  grandfather  ? 

Ann.  That  she  knows  not  herself  as  yet,  but  he  is  to  be  here  to- 
night at  the  house  of  this  Jewish  prince,  and  we  are  bid  hither  ako  to 
meet  our  new  master.  The  king  and  Lord  Hawkley  are  to  be  present, 
for  Ben  Israel  comes  with  Rachel's  grandfather  to  loan  money  to  the 
king.     Come  haste  we  in. 

Gab.     But  keep  me  within   thy  charms,  Annetti. 

Ann.     Blockhead,  see  to  that  thyself.     {Exeuftt  k.  i  e.) 

Scene  3. — A  grand  apartment  in  the  house  of  David  Ben  Israel, 
having  the  appearance  of  a  Jewish  palace  gorgeously  lighted. 
Enter  Judah  and  Levi,  l.  c. 

Levi.     So,  Judah,  thou  hast  travel'd  o'er  the  earth. 
Sir  Judah.     My  feet  have  touch'd  the  soil  of  every  land. 
Levi.     I've  heard  my  master  say  thou  ever  wert 
Of  strangest  mind. 

Sir  Judah.     Returning  to  my  father's  house  at  Frankfort, 
After  a  score  of  years  of  wandering, 
I  learned  my  uncle  David  had  not  found 
Young  Benjamin,  his  son.     Train'd  as  the  hound 
I  follow'd  on  the  tracks  which  David's  son 
And  my  lost  sister  made  when  iiying  from 


ACT  2.3  BEN  ISRAEL.  21 

The  cruelty  of  Spain,  and  reach'd  these  shores 
Just  at  the  time  that  Rachel's  Jewish  play, 
"The  Princess  of  the  Captivity," 
Was  heralded  abroad. 

Levi.     Ay,  ay  !  good  Judah,  when  the  watchers  told 
My  master  David  oft,  it  struck  his  mind 
As  if  the  Angel  of  the  Covenant  had  writ 
A  volume  in  the  heavens  of  which  he  knew 
The  sign  and  held  the  key. 

Sir  Judah.     And  I.     And  knew  the  legend  of  our  house. 
Thus  runs  the  prophecy  : 

"If  any  of  our  mystic  line  be  lost, 
An  angel  from  within  or  from  without 

The  lost  shall  find. 
Their  magic  blood  unto  its  own  shall  speak: 
Though  in  the  darkest  night  their  mystic  star  shall  shine*'* 

Levi.     Ay,  ay,  'tis  wonderful !    And  so  you  read 
The  secret  of  the  child  which  she  did  set  to  song 
As  did  your  uncle  David  ? 

Sir  Judah.     I  did.     And  knew  that  she  was  one  of  usj 
And  that,  though  all  unconscious  to  herself. 
To  us  she  told  her  inborn  mystery. 

Levi.     Judah, — good  Judah. 

Sir  Judah.     Speak  on. 

Levi.     Nay,  nay;  I  will  withold  my  tongue; 
For  thou  shalt  soon  thy  uncle  David  see. 

Sir  Judah,     I've  seen  my  uncle  David. 

Levi.     And  spoken  to  him  ? 

Sir  Judah.     As  oft  as  I  have  spoke  to  thee. 

Levi.     Oh,  oh  !     I  see,  I  see  ! 

Sir  Judah.     My  uncle  David  should  not  hide  from  me. 

Levi.     Thy  uncle  David  hath  oft  said 
His  nephew  was  a  mystery  few  could  read, 
Yet  was  as  wise  as  Solomon. 

Sir  Judah.     Then  tell  him  I  advise  him  now  to  give 
My  sister's  child  unio  the  son  and  heir 
Of  old  Lord  Leon  Templar. 

Levi.     Nay,  nay  ;  his  blood  must  not  be  mixed  ;  his  name 
Not  lost  unto  his  tribe.     Thou  didst  thyself 
Essay  to  part  them  yesterday. 

Sir  Judah.     But  not  to-day.     His  family  gives  consent 
That  he  shall  wed  my  sister  Rachel's  child. 


22  BEN  ISRAEL.  [ACT  2. 

Levi.     Now,  by  the  staff  uf  Jacob,  this  will  cut 
Thy  uncle  David  to  the  quick.     Judah, 
We  must  consult  the  rulers  of  our  tribe. 
See,  they  conie. 

Enter  lords  and  ladies  of  the  court.  Next  bishops  of  the  Church  of 
England  and  rabbis,  who  range  themselves  on  either  side,  followed 
by  Sir  Walter  Templar,  Rachel  and  Sir  Judah.  Last  enter 
King  Charles  with  Lord  Hawkley,  who  come  to  Centre. 

Hawk.     What  means  this  gathering,  your  majtsty. 

Chas.     'Tis  but  the  princely  David's  whim.      He  'vchemes 
To  have  the  bishops  of  the  English  Church 
Partakers  in   the  covenant  of  good  • 

Between  us  and  the  Jews. 

Hawk.     But  where  is  this  David  Ben  Israel  ? 

Enter  David,  who  goes  aiid  converses  with  the  Jews. 

Chas.     Didst  see  that  old  Jew  enter  last  ? 

Hawk.     By  heaven,  'tis  the  peddler  of  the  court. 

Chas.     And  no  David  !     There  is  mystery  here. 

Hawk.     Which  I  will  prick,    {goes  down  c.  and  haughtily  breaks  into 
the  circle  of  church  dignitaties  and  Rabbis,  addressing  the  former) 
Surely,  most  reverend  sirs. 
We  are  not  here  to  be  received  by  such 
As  these,  buyers  of  old  silver — vagabonds. 
Who  peddle  through  our  streets?     {goes  up  to  peddler,  indicating  him 

with  insolent  disgust) 
That  rusty,  greasy,  stinking  gabardine 
Most  plainly  tells  the  swine  with  which  we  mix 
To-night.     Where  is  Ben  Israel?     He  claims 
To  be  descendant  of  the  royal  blood 
Of  Judah.     If  this  prince  be  here 
Let  him  appear  at  once,  or  we  retire. 

David  comes  to  c. 

David.     Most  princely  guests,  David  Ben  Israel 
Gives  cordial  welcome  to  ye  all. 
Charles.     Thou  Ben  Israel? 

David.     Thus  am  I  known  among  my  tribe — this  "herd" 
Of  Jacob. 

Hawkley.     Oh  fool,  that  I  have  been  \ 

David.     Nay,  'twas  this  stinking  gabardine  that  did 

Offend  thy  perfumed  nose.     It  smelt  of  swine. 

Good  Levi,  take  it,  if  it  has  a  smell 


ACT  2.]                                           BEN  ISRAEL.                                                       23  " 

i 

Of  swine,  then  bury  it  till  it  be  sweet  ! 

As  spices  of  Arabia.      '  IMs  but     {throivs  off  gabardine  and  gives  it  to  \ 

Levi,  discovering  a  princely  Jewish  costume.^  \ 
Our  outside  skin,  and  much  offendetn. 

Hawkley.     Ah  !     This  is  your  revenge,  old  man,  on  me;  J 

I  will  be  even  with  you  yet.  dog  of  a  Jew.     {^Attempts  to  leave,  but  is  I 

interrupted  by  David,  who  waves  him  back. )  * 

David.     Stay,  my  Lord  of  Hawkley!  ' 

I  hold  some  bonds  of  thine,  which,  if  pressed  home  .. 

For  settlement,  would  send  thee  through  the  world  \ 

A  beggar  lord.     They  fell  due  yestermorn.  1 

Leave  my  poor  dwelling  thus,  to-morrow  I  '\ 

The  settlement  will  press.     The  other  day  j 

Thou  spurn'dst  Ben  Israel,  and  trampled  him  i 

Beneath  thy  haughty  feet,  and  call'd  him  dog.  ; 

'Twas  then  this  maiden  for  her  people  stood  \ 

As  Judith  might,  who  smote  the  chief  \ 
Of  proud  Assyria's  host. 
Ben  Israel  thanks  this  lord  that  his  outrage 

Did  show  him  such  a  picture  of  his  race,  ., 

And  in  his  gratitude  renews  the  bonds.  \ 

But  if,  hereafter  thou  but  touchest  e'en  the  hem  | 
Of  any  of  my  people's  robes,  ay,  though  it  be 

The  least  of  all  my  tribe,  I  will  exact  • 

The  recompense  to  the  last  farthing's  due.  \ 

Hawkley.     {aside)     Damnation.  ] 

Rachel,     {to  U'alter)     Oh  what  a  change  is  wrought  in  him  !  j 

Now  looks  he,  whom  we  knew  but  yesterday  -- 

As  tlie  old  peddler  of  the  court,  as  I  { 

Have  pictured  those  of  that  grand  line  who  reign'd  \ 

As  kings  in  Israel.  • 

Sir  W.     Even  Lord  Hawkley 's  pride  is  cowed  beneath  '! 

His  native  majesty,  though  he  fain  would  j 

Confront  him  with  a  show  of  scorn.  ' 

David,     (addressing  company')  I  have  invited  you  to-night  to  hear  ,• 

The  story  of  Ben  Israel's  chequered  life.  < 

Chas.     Thy  history  ?  , 

David.     And  to  give  judgment  on  a  cause  that  sits  \ 

As  would  a  mountain  on  the  old  man's  heart.  \ 

Rachel,     {to  Walter)  I  shudder  with  forbodingof  I  know  not  what,  1 

Yet  feel  th-ere  is  a  fate  to  night  that  points  to  us.  ^ 

David.     E'en  like  his  more  illustrious  sires,  David  j 
Hath  dreamt  the  time  must  come  when  Judah's  sons 

Would  hear  the  "  Comfort  ye,  my  people"  swell  ' 


24  BEN    ISRAEL.  [ACT  2. 


Like  hallelujahs  from  the  nations'  tongues.  - 

Emboldened  by  the  spirit  of  this  new-born  age,  ] 

He  sent  young  Benjamin,  his  only  son,  .■ 

To  Spain,  where  for  seven  centuries  we  dwelt.  ' 

Alas!   he  but  returned  to  bear  the  curse  anew. 

The  dreaded  Inquisition,  in  its  throes  of  death,  \ 

Seized  him — the  Jew— with  savage  joy  to  find  ] 

One  victim  left  on  whom  it  could  expend 

Its  priestly  rage.     Oh,  Benjamin,  my  son,  my  son!  i 

Rachel.     Your  story  lacerates  my  heart.     The  thought  ^ 

Of  all  our  people's  woes  my  Jewish  blood  \ 
Stirs  to  its  depths;  and,  wouian  though  I  am, 

1  would  I  had  the  power  to  avenge.  ' 

David  {recovering  from  his  etnotion).     So  felt  Ben   Israel,  maiden,  I 

once,  when  like  j 

The  cedar  of  famed  Lebanon,  "! 

He  tower'd  amoug  his  people  in  his  strength  ;  ; 

But,  child,  long  suffering  hath  chastened  him. 

Rachel     Good,  princely  heart;  oh,  how  I  honor  thee!  • 

David.     Sire,  my  children,  terror-stricken,  fled  from  Spain,  ; 

And  Rachel,  in  her  insane  love  and  fear,  j 

Hid  Benjamin  e'en  from  his  father's  search.  j 

Chas.     But  found  you  not  your  children,  princely  Jew?  \ 

David.     Nay,  sire;  they  sleep  together,  side  by  side.  i 

Yet  hath  the  God  of  Jacob  blessed  my  search.  \ 

Maiden,  thou  wear'st  about  thy  neck  a  charm  : 

Placed  by  thy  dying  mother  at  thy  birth.                                          •  i 

Rach.     I  do  !     'Tis  here !                                                   .  \ 

David.     It  IS  the  same  ! 

Lost  child,  come  to  thy  grandsire's  arms  !  '• 

Rach.     Grandfather  !  oh,  my  grandfather  !  : 

Chas.     David  Ben  Israel's  grandchild  !  1 

Jews.     The  princess  of  our  captivity  !  -i 

David.     Sire,  no  longer  Rachel  the  singer,  '. 

But  Rachel,  heiress  of  Ben  Israel. 

Sit.   W.     Good  heaven  !     Then  was  her  opera  inspired. 

Rachel.     Oh,  grandfather,  your  looks  grow  solemn   and   the  lines   - 

Of  pain  furrow  your  brow.  Oh,  what  can  come  1 
To  cloud  our  world  of  joy  ? 

Sir  W.     Most  reverend  sir,  if  what  the  king  did  say  \ 

Of  my  betrothal  with  my  cousin  be  the  cause  % 

Which  troubles  you,  'tis  all  removed;  ^^ 


ACT    2.]                                          BEN    ISRAEL.                       -                              25  ■ 

My  family  give  consent  that  I  shall  wed  '         ; 

Her  whom  I  loved  ere  any  of  her  kin  '; 

Knew  of  her  birth.  ^ 

David.     Judah  hath  told  me  all.      'Tis  this  which  makes  • 

The  mountain  of  my  grief.  j 

Sir  W.     Rachel,  what  does  this  mean  ?  -■ 

Rack.     Grandfather,  what  does  this  forbode  ?  •; 

David  {to  Waltef~).     A  greater  barrier  hath  come  between  \ 

Thee  and  this  maid.  i 

Rack.     Oh,  no,  no  !  \ 

Say  not  so.     'Tis  not  possible  there  now  .' 
Can  rise  a  barrier  between  our  loves. 

Dav.     I've  said  it,  child.     At  first  'twas  but  a  covenant 

Which  they  who  made  it  could  revoke  e'en  with  a  breath.  1 

Rack.     Oh,  sir,  if  two  great  families  of  this  proud  '] 

Old  land,  forgetting  her  despised  descent,  i 
Open  their  arms  to  take  the  Jewess  home 
To  their  warm  hearts,  what  can  arise  to  part  us  now  ? 

David.     A  hundred  generations  of  thy  dead  ! 

[f  this  young  noble's  family  have  forgot  ^ 

The  branded  brow  we've  worn  down  through  the  past,  i 

When  all  lands  were  as  hades  to  our  race ;  ; 

If  they  forget  our  banned  origin,  ] 

Thy  grandfather  does  not,  nor  does  he,  child,  \ 

Forget  thy  ancestors  were  princes,  '-. 

And  did  reign  as  kings  in  Israel  ; 
Ere  his  proud  family  had  a  name  on  earth. 

Those  hundred  generations,  child,  through  me,  i 
Last  of  our  sacred  royal  line,  declare 

The  Christian  and  the  Jewess  must  not  mate  !  ' 

Rachel.     O  Walter,  now  I  comprehend  it  all.  \ 
These  generations  of  my  dead  rise  up 

Before  me  even  here  as  from  the  grave.                                                *  ? 

Their  deep  solemnity  appalls  my  sense.  \ 

David.     Daughter  of  Ben  Israel,  ] 
I  do  conjure  thee  bow  to  their  dread  will ! 

Rach.     The  curse  !     The  curse  !     'T  has  fallen  on  my  head  ;  \ 

And  'twas  thy  lips  that  did  pronounce  this  doom.  1 

David.     It  is  their  will,  not  mine.     It  must  be  done  !  \ 

Rachel.     Oh,  grandfather,  when  you  did  say  that  we  , 

Must  be  divorced,  it  was  the  curse  to  me.  ' 

Sir  J^.     And  to  me. 

David.     Divorced  ?  ' 


26                                                     BEN    ISRAEL.  [ACT  2.      ] 

Rachel.     Yes,  yes.     I  said  divorced,  for  love  hath  made 

Us  mates.     Once  did  I  save  his  life  and  nursed  ,j 

Him  through  a  fever  when  his  soul  was  wing'd  i 

r  To  take  departure  on  his  dying  breath  j 

'Which  scarce  did  dim  the  glass.     I  wooed  his  soul  \ 

As  by  a  magic  touch  and  drew  it  back  to  earth.  ! 

Then,  woman-like,  I  loved  the  life  I  saved,  j 
And  garnered  that  dear  life  in  mine  ! 

Grandfather,  he  is  mine.     Take  hmi  not  from  me  ;  > 

Make  not  all  my  future  one  dark  blank —  j 

Blank   now, — blank   in    the   great    hereafter  !       {throwing  herself   at    ; 

David's /<f^/.)  '\ 

Oh,  bless  our  union  !     O,  my  grandsire,  bless  !  J 

Give  us  thy  blessing  ;  see,  1  kneel  for  it.  "\ 

David,     {bowed  with  grief  ^     Rachel!     Rachel!  '; 

Rach.     Revoke  this  doom  of  separation, 

,  'Tis  more  than  I  can  bear  !     'Tis  you  that  speak  \ 
♦  For  all  our  dead — you  who  stand  over  me 

I  In  solemn  grief  bowed  to  the  earth.  ^ 

'  O,  let  it  be  your  blessing;  and  revoke  this  curse.  \ 

David.     (^Turning  and  pointing  Rachel  to  the  Bishops  and  Rabbis.    \ 

Rachel  quickly  fises  and  turns  imploringly  to  them.)  ''] 

See,  child,  I  have  gathered  these  to  judge  .       \ 

For  us.     Speak,  holy  men.     There  stands  the  last  ', 

Of  all  our  royal  house.     If  she  now  weds  • 
The  Christian  knight  then  David's  name  will  die 
Forever  out  of  Israel.     Speak  ye,  now, 

Judges  of  our  people  ;  and  speak  ye,  J 

The  judges  of  the  Gentiles  ;   have  not  I  \ 

Pronounced  your  fiat  when  I  do  declare  \ 

The  Jewess  and  the  Christian  must  not  mate  ?  \ 

Rabbis  and  Bishops.     You  have.      {Rachel  staggers  but  is  caught   \ 

by  Walter.    ^  \ 

Sir.   W.     Old  man,  you've  struck  her  to  the  heart.  ; 

David.     Peace,  boy  !     Think  you  mine  is  not  stricken  too  ?  /- 

Rach.     (reviving)  You've  heard  the  judgment,  Walter  !  They  have    i 

said  ! 

We  are  divorced.     I  go — I  go.  i 

David.     Rachel,  Rachel,  where  goest  thou  ?  '\ 

Rach.     {turning  upon  him  passionate lyy  Out— out  !  old  man,  bear-    ^ 

ing  the  curse  your  li[)S  \ 

And  theirs  pronounced.  j 

He  was  as  father,  mother,  race  and  faith  to  me,  J 

And  ye  have  taken  him  from  me.  I 


ACT  3.]  BEN  ISRAEL.  27 

I  do  accept  the  judgment 

Thus  most  awfully  pronounced  upon  my  head. 
I  go— I  go,  bearing  through  the  earth  my  curse. 
Igo!— Igo! 

David,     Rachel  !     Rachel  ! 

Rack.     Follow  me  not !     Hinder  me  not ! 
The  doom'd  are  sacred  as  the  bless'd.      {Picture.') 

END  OF  ACT  II. 


ACT  III. 

Scene  i.  — 7/z<?  Jewish  Quartet   in   London.      A  view  of  the  street. 
Exterior  of  Ben  Israel' s  house. 

Enter  Levi  and  Rebecca,  his  wife. 

Levi.     By  our  sacred  tribe,  I  would  that  Israel 
Had  left  his  bones  in  antique  Babylon, 
Ere  thus  our  sons  and  daughters  should 
Be  damned  by  Gentile  mixing. 

Red.     But  Rachel  loves  the  Christian. 

Levi.     And  I  do  hate  the  Christian. 

Reb.     Levi,  thou  art  wrong. 

Levi.     What,  wrong  to  pay  my  debts  ? 

Reb.     The  child  would  die  without  the  Christian's  love. 

Levi.     Bah  !    Why  should  she  die  ?     Hath  she  not  found 
Her  people  ? 

Jieb.     And  lost  her  love  \ 

Levi.     'Tis  like  ye  all.     Name  love  to  a  woman, 
And  she  will  sell  her  soul  to  please 
Her  fancy.     Beguile  a  woman's  ear  with  love, 
And  she  will  sell  her  people  and  betray 
Her  people's  God. 

Reb.     But  chance,  yea,  fate  almost,  good  Levi,  made 

Our  Rachel  Christian.     Her  Jewish  mother  dying 

Her  Christian  foster  mother  in  her  love. 
Baptized  the  child. 

Levi.     Thou  stick'st  a  dagger  in  my  heart  ! 
Would  she  had  laid  our  Rachel  in  her  grave 
Ere  baptized  her  unto  the  Nazarine. 


28  BEN  ISRAEL.  [aCT  3. 

Enter  Annetti  as  he  is  speaking. 

Ann.     Thou  art  a  brute  for  saying  so. 

Levi.     Bah !     Thou  art  a  hussy  and  knowest  not 
The  weight  of  this  grave  matter.     But  thy  mother  did 
With  lavish  kindness  rear  the  child  ; 
So  thou  may'st  say  e'en  as  it  pleaseth  thee. 

Enter  Gabriel,  with  ribbons  in  his  coat  as  for  a  wedding  day- 
Gab.     Hurrah !     {business') 

Levi.     What  !  hath  the  fool  the  Christian's  legion  in  him? 
Gab,     No,  Levi.     Two  horns  before  churching.     Two  horns  only 
—two  horns  of  good  old  English  twenty-one,  or  I'm  a  Jew. 

Levi.     Get  thee  to  the  Christian's  quarter,  knave ; 
Thou  hast  no  business  here. 

Gab.  Choke  down  thy  choler,  for  I  bring  thee  news.  Rachel  is 
coming  home  to-day. 

Levi.     There's  money  for  thy  news. 

Gab.  (  Testing  it  on  the  pavement)  By  a  Christian's  conscience  i^ 
hath  a  kingly  tone.  Jew,  thou  art  a  Christian— a  golden  Christian— 
a  right  well  begotten  Christian. 

Levi.     Let  me  pass.     {Leaves  in  disgust  and  goes  into  Ben  Israel's 

house.) 
Gab.     Gold,  Annetti,  gold. 
Ann.     The  wedding  ring?     Let  me  see  it. 
Gab.     No,  a  Charlie;  but  a  golden  one. 
Ann.     That  for  your  Charlie  !     I  thought  it  was  the  ring. 
Gab.     But   think   of   golden  gifts  from   a  Jew.     My  master  shall 
«iarry  the  Jewess. 

Reb.  Yea,  Rachel  shall  marry  the  Christian.  Father  Abraham 
forgive  me  for  saying  so.  But  my  master  David  cannot  live  without 
his  grandchild. 

Ann.     Nor  Rachel  without  her  mate. 

Reb.     Here  come  our  maidens  forth  with  songs  to  greet  her. 

Hebrew  men  and  maidens  come  out  of  Ben  Israel's  house  singing. 

SONG. 

Maidens,  tune  our  golden  harps 

An  sing  as  in  days  of  yore; 
Young  men,  make  merry  in  a  stranger  land, 

And  mourn  for  our  homes  no  more. 

Chorus:    All  lands  be  our  home,  make  merry! 

We'll  roam  no  more  from  this  welcome  shore! 
All  lands  be  our  home— make  merry. 


ACT  3.]  BEN  ISRAEL.  29 

Maidens,  strike  a  joyful  strain, 
And.  bring  in  our  jubilee; 


Young  men,  make  merry  in  a  native  land 


For  this  shall  our  birthplace  be.                '  1 

Chorus:    All  lands  be  our  home,  etc.  I 

Enter  Rachel  and  T)XYm,  followed  by  Sir  Walter,  Judah,  Charles,  | 

Hawkley,  and  the  Templar  Men.     Last  Old  Meg  enters.                       1 

David.     Be  this  thy  native  land,  O,  Israel ! 

Chas.     Gad's  death  !  well  said,  David.  \ 

Hebrews.     A  jubilee  !  a  jubilee  ! 

Rack.     Yes,  thanks  to  him  (  Walter^  and  to  the  king.  \ 

David.     Men  of  my  tribe  !     One  year  ago  to-day  i 

You  did  confirm  Ben  Israel's  judgment  • 

That  Rachel  and  the  Christian  must  not  mate.  \ 

Out  from  our  presence  went  the  maid,  bearing  \ 

The  curse  which  we  pronounced.  \ 

Rack.     But  he  did  turn  it  into  joy.   {indicating  Walter.)  ' 

O,  men  of  Judah  !     There  stands  one  who  since  ^          .                  'j 
That  night  hath  stormed  the  British  Parliament 

With  glorious  eloquence  upon  the  cause  ! 

Of  our  long  suffering  people.  ■ 

Ah  !   was  not  this  a  grand  revenge?  \ 

For  he  went  out  with  me  bearing  the  curse  \ 

Of  hates,  which  to  our  race  hath  brought  ages  of  woe.  | 

Sir  W.     Revenge  ?     And  for  your  priceless  love  i 

Which  hath  ennobled  me?     But  you  are  right.  ; 

The  curse  did  fall  on  me  as  well.     'Twas  then  \ 

I  felt  the  burden  of  your  people's  wrongs.  \ 

'Twas  then  I  swore  in  my  despair  j 

That  never  should  my  voice  be  hushed,  ' 

Until  the  Jew  with  Christian  ranked  as  equal.  x 

Dav.     Young  man,  ingratitude  is  not  my  people's  sin,  ^ 

We  love  not,  for  we  have  not  been  loved, —  \ 

Trust  not,  because  we  have  not  been  trusted  1  \ 

But  thou  shalt  find  the  Jew  is  just :  ' 

That  he  will  pay  his  debt  where  love  is  due  ' 

With  more  exactness  than  his  debts  of  hate.  • 

Be  this  my  bond  of  love  and  witness  of  my  word  :   (  Taking  Rachel's  \ 

hand  and  giving  it  to  Sir  Walter.^  \ 

Take  her  !     Ben  Israel  revokes  the  curse  !  : 

Let  all  pronounce  on  them  the  blessings  of  our  fathers !  j 

Chas.     Ben  Israel,  knowing  thee  I  wonder  not.  ! 

Thy  race  hath  been  the  sampler  of  a  world.  \ 

\ 
\ 


30 


BEN  ISRAEL.  [ACT  3. 


Dav.     Didst  know  the  Jew,  my  king,  as  he  shall  yet 
Be  known,  thou  shouldst  confess  my  pattern  is  but  poor. 
My  people's  sampler,  sire,  is  their  Fidelity  ! 

Sir  W,     Shame  on  us  Christians— shame  !  for  we  have  made 
That  grdiudi  fidelity  the  people's  curse. 

Vavid.     Sir  Walter,  bid  thy  uncle  Courtney  meet 
Me  and  my  grandchild  here  to-night.     My  gold 
Shall  free  thy  kinsman's  lands  of  debt,  Rachel 
Shall  give  the  cancelled  deed  as  dower  to  her 
Who  did  release  thee  from  thy  family  covenant 
To  wed  thy  Hebrew  love. 

Rash.     Thus  love  redeems  us  from  the  curse  of  hates. 

Meg.     (as  they  are  going  off)    Not  if  my  hate  wins  I     {close  in) 

Scene  2.— Exterior  of  the  King's  Arms  Inn.     Gabrjel  and  Annetti 
come  out  of  the  Inn. 

Gab.  Now  if  logic  be  logic,  and  blessing  be  blessing,  and  mar- 
riage goeth  not  in  crooked  paths,  to  trip  true  love  up,  then  cometh 
we  out  of  Dad  Bramble's  house  with  the  blessing  of  our  posterity  on 
our  heads. 

Ann.     Fie  !   Gabriel.     Never  mind  about  the  posterity. 
Gab.     Ah  !   But  I   do   mind   the  posterity,  Annetti.       What  would 
you  have  me,  a  half-begotien  father— an  unnatural  ancestor  that  loveth 
not  his  offspring  ? 

Ann.     Do  you  understand  that,  saucebox?  {stops  his  mouth) 
Gab.     Thou  tiast  stopped  the  mouth  of  the  lambs  and  I   will  stop 
the  mouth  of  their  dam.     {kisses  her) 
Ann.     Well,  now,  I  rather  like  that. 
Gab.     So  do  I. 

Old  Meg  rushes  across  their  path,  l.  i  e. 
Meg,    Alarm  !  alarm  !  The  Jews  have  done  a  murder  !  {Exit^.  i  e  ) 
Gab.     'Tis  the  she  Fiend  !  Murder  !  murder  ! 
Ann.     Hold  your  tongue,  fool,  'twas  only  Old  Meg. 
Gab.     What!  have   I  been  scared  by  that  Papist  hag?     Well  here 
comes  her  brood,  who  will  not  frighten  me. 

Papists  rush  in. 

Pap.     The  Jews  have  done  a  murder.     Murder  and  the  Jews  ! 

Gab  {pitching  into  them)  Murder  and  the  Papists  !  Hurrah  for 
the  Jews  !  Down  with  the  Papists  !  {He  drives  them  off  l.  i  e.,  and 
is  followed  off  by  Annetti. 


ACT  3.]  BEN  ISRAEL.  31 

Meg  returns  with  Hawkley. 

Hawk.     It  was  not  done  too  soon. 

Meg.     Soon  enough— soon  enough,  my  son,  to  trap  the  Jew. 

Hawk.  'Tis  his  crafty  nephew  that  I  fear.  He  knows  how  I  hate 
his  tribe,  and  has  urged  old  Ben  Israel  to  foreclose  the  mortgage  on 
ray  castle  and  estates  to  make  a  dower  of  them  for  Rachel 

Meg  Aha!  but  he  knew  not  old  Meg.  We've  trapped  them  and 
feir  Walter  Templar  will  be  missing.  Bat  we'll  do  more  yet— more 
yet.  A  storm  must  be  raised  in  England  against  the  Tews  or  they  will 
rule  the  kingdom  by  their  gold.     So  said  the  holy  fathers. 

Hawk.  Yes;  the  Jesuits  hate  the  Jews  for  they  want  not  the  res- 
toration of  the  Catholic  power  in  England.  That  plotting  uncle  of 
the  Jewess-he  who  serves  the  arch-heretic,  William  of  Orange,  aims 
to  break  off  Charles'  alliance  with  Louis. 

Meg  We  shall  see!  we  shall  see  !  Old  Meg  can  plot  as  well  as 
AAr^.  -^  ,""•  ^^^^  ^^y  witnesses  prepared  to  testify  that  Sir 
Walter  Templar  was  murdered  by  a  band  of  Jews,  who  did  out^ 
number  them  qmte  two  to  one.  Old  Meg  will  do  her  part  We'll 
catch  them  in  the  trap.  Curse  them  all-heretics  and  Jews.  *  Come, 
my  son,  to  work.     {^Exeunt  r.  i  e.)  ' 

Scene  3.— 77^^  Quarters  of  the  Jews  again.  Night.  Ben  Israel's 
House  Illuminated.  Chorus  of  men  and  maidens  come  forth  ft  cm 
the  house,  singing. 

SONG. 

t^ART  SECONB. 

Virgins,  light  your  well  trimmed  lamps- 
Be  brides  as  in  days  of  yore; 

Young  men,  go  wooing  in  a  stranger  land, 
And  sigh  for  your  loves  no  more. 

Chorus:      All  lands  be  our  home— make  merry! 

We'll  roam  no  more  from  this  welcome  shore- 
All  lands  be  our  home— make  merry. 

j.  Virgins,  forth  to  meet  the  groom— 

K  Return  with  our  jubilee ! 

I..'  Young  men  be  wedding  in  a  native  land, 

-b  or  this  shall  our  birthplace  be. 

Enter  Hawkley  and  Meg,  r.  i  e. 
Hawk.     There  must  not  be  half  work  to-night. 


32  BEN  ISRAEI,.  [act  3.  | 

-i 
Meg.     There  shall  not  be,  my  son.  ] 

Hawk.     Destroy  the  Jewish  quarter  and  we  save 
My  castle,  Meg.     Burn  down  this  house  to-night,  ' 

And,  in  the  morn,  the  old  Jew's  mortgages  .• 

Will  be  but  tinder  for  the  match  to  fire  ^ 

The  den  of  every  Jew  in  London.  • 

Meg.     There's  many  a  spendthrift  lord  will  thank  us  for  the   work.  ; 

Hawk     Before  a  month  the  frightened  tribe  will  fly  J 

From  England's  shores  again.  ] 

But  canst  depend  on  Gabriel  ? 

Meg,  Aye;  I  have  cozened  his  dull  wits.  He  thinks  his  master  ' 
murdered  by  the  Jews,  and  like  a  maniac  cries  through  the  streets,  i 
the  Jews  !  Revenge  !  The  devil  and  the  Jews  I  I  must  away  to  lend  ' 
him  aid.     (^Exeunt  "9..  2  e.) 

Enter  David  with  Levi,  d.  Q^from  the  Jewish  quarter.  \ 

j 

Lev.     Trust  not  the  Christian's  love,  my  master.     'Tis  1 

A  snare.     The  curses  of  our  wrongs  alight  on  them.  I 

Dav.     Nay,  Levi,  curse  them  not.  \ 

Levi.     Have  they  not  been  a  blight  upon  thy  life?  ] 

Dav.     It  is  the  heritage  of  all  our  race  to  suffer  wrongs*  .  ; 

Levi.     Hark  1  what  cries  were  those?     (^Cries  heard.)  \ 

In,  in,  my  master;  for  some  bloody  work  \ 

Is  near  our  quarter.  i 

Dav.     Nay,  nay,  good  Levi.     'Tis  the  young  men's  shouts,  \ 

Who  with  their  lord  have  come  to  celebrate  j 

His  marriage  with  my  child.  \ 

Levi.     I  trust  not  the  Christian's  love.  \ 

David.     Ha  f  our  people  do  illuminate.     {Cries.)  ■    ^,i 

Levi.     Those  cries  again  ! 

Dav.     Were  shouts  of  joy   good  Levi. 

Levi.     I'd  rather  feast  upon  the  Christian's  hate 
Than  sup  his  love. 

Dav.     In,  Levi,  now;  and  bid  my  household  forth 
To  welcome  those  who  come  in  love  to  us.     {Cries.  ) 

Levi.     Then  hath  their  love  strange  tongues. 
The  curse  of  all  our  tribe  alight  on  them  !     {angry  cries.') 

Dav.     {listening  to  the  cries)      Methinks  as  they  come  near  those 
shouts  do  seem 
More  like  anathemas  which  have  so  oft 
Rung  in  my  ears  in  other  lands. 
Levi! 


^^T  3.]                                             BEN  ISRAEL.                                ^                         33  / 

Levi.     In,  in,  my  master  !  \ 

_Davtd      When  priests  have  raised  the  cry  against  the  Tew,  ^ 

Ihe  multitude  have  caught  it  up  in  rage , 

Then  hunting  us  like  hounds  in  every  street, 

Have  driven  us  as  sheep  to  slaughter,             '  i 

And  our  homes  have  sacked,   {multitude  now  heard  raging  near  M  1 

l^evi,  see  what  this  tumult  means.   {Exit  Levi)                                   ^  ] 

A  Cry  {without)  Murder !  Murder  !  1 

Bav.     The  God  of  Jacob  be  our  refuge  then.  \ 

Enter  Sir   Tudah.  ' 

\ 

Dav      Judah,  what  means  it  ?  ; 

Sir  Judah.     As  yet  I  cannot  fully  comprehend.  j 

Sir  Walter's  tenantry  came  raging  through  , 

The  streets  crying,  Revenge  upon  the  Jews  !  -^ 

We'll  drive  the  Jews  from  England.  ; 

David.  Now,  by  the  God  of  Jacob,  'tis  most  fit  j 
They  thus  repay  my  kind  intents.                                                                       >;.•>     ; 

What  have  I  done  of  wrong  ?  I  had  redeemed  ; 

Their  lands  from  him  who  hath  supplanted  them..  \ 

Enter  Charles. 

Chas.     Fly,  David,  fly  !   I'll  aid  you  to  escape.  : 
My  guards  disperse  the  mob  who  were 
By  thousands  gathering  round  your  house. 

David.     Fly?     Wherefore  should  I  fly?    The  guilty  fly 
And  not  the  innocent,  when  they  have  nerve 

To  meet  the  consequence  of  other's  deeds,  j 

And  ask  as  I  do  now— what  have  I  done  ?  ^ 

What  is  the  wrong  whereof  I  am  accused  ?  { 

Enter  Hawkley  followed  by  Meg,  I 
Hawk.     The  murder  of  Sir  Walter  Templar  '    * 

^ach      {coming  forth  from  house-)    Murdered*!     Walter  murdered  ?  '' 
No,  no  !     It  cannot  be  I    It  is  not  I                                                                      ^) 

Meg      It  is,  thou  Jewish  witch  f  ' 
Sir  Judah.     Hawkley  this  is  foul  play. 

Meg.     Ha  I     Thine,  wizard,  and  thy  Jews.  i 

Jiach.     The  storm  hath  burst  and  on  thy  a^ed  head  ^ 

The  thunderbolt  alights  !  \ 

Would  it  had  stricken  mine  alone,  not  thine !  ■ 

Dav.     Alas,  the  woe  !     Ever  the  woe  !  i 

Hawk.     Your  Majesty,  I  cannot  quell  the  mob.  i 


34  .  BEN  ISRAEL.  [ACT  3. 

The  Templar  men  demand  Ben  Israel 
To  answer  for  the  murder  of  their  lord. 

Rack.     Said'st  murdered  by  the  Jews  ? 
My  grandsire's  hand  bathed  in  the  blood 
Of  him  I  loved  ?     Look  at  that  grand  old  man 
In  grief  for  us,  oblivious  of  himself: 
Sits  guilt  enthroned  there?     Or  is  it  not 
The  picture  of  a  man  who  fain  would  bear 
The  burden  of  the  woes  of  those  he  loved  ? 

Chas.     It  is.     David  you  answer  not. 

Dav.     What  shall  I  answer?     I  have  been  as  dumb, 
For  I  did  find  no  matter  for  my  speech. 
Except,  Charles  Stuart,  matter  not  mine  own, 
And  shadows  of  dark  deeds  of  others  born. 
I  will  not  further  speak  till  I  have  heard 
The  circumstances  of  the  charge. 

Chas.     David,  'tis  said  you  set  men  of  your  tribe 
To  murder  Templar.     That  your  fair  pretense, 
To  wed  him  to  this  maid,  was  but  to  break 
Her  to  your  will.     Widow'd  ere  wed  'twould  be 
In  vain  for  her  to  hold  against  your  fixed 
Intent,  that  she  should  marry  with  a  Jew. 

Dav.     Now  grows  the  damned  lie  into  rank  form 
And  dangerous  circumstance.     Go  on  !  I  list. 
I  see  there's  more  to  come  against  the  Jew. 

Chas.     Your  plot  was  overheard. 

Dav.     Oh  !  damned  lie  again.     Go  on  ! 

Chas.     You  went  abroad  to-day.  ^ 

Dav.     Ay  to  my  kinsman,  Levi's,  where  I  should 
Have  met  Sir  Walter  with  the  moneys. 
But  he  came  not. 

Chas.     He  came  but  went  not  out.     To  hide  the  crime 
They  say  you  set  on  fire  old  Levi's  house, 
Which  is  in  ashes  now. 

Dav.     My  kinsman's  house  !     Who  saw  this  deed? 

Meg.     I,  Jew.     Old  Levi  and  thyself  did  it. 

Rach.     O,  Walter,  Walter  !     Thus  the  fowler  hath 
Ensnared  us  all. 

Dav.     Here  stand  I,  then,  as  stands  the  stricken  oak, 
By  lightning  singed  from  crown  to  root, 
Whose  railings  'gainst  the  stroke  of  fate 
Would  shame  its  sorrow,  which  should  have  no  speech. 
Its  blasted  majesty,  which  doth  outlive 


ACT  3.]  BEN  ISRAEL. 


35 


Its  life,  shall  better  speak  for  it  than  words,  ] 

And  justice  shall  be  done  it,  e'en  in  death  !  \ 

Come  Rachel !     {He  is  going  of  to  give  himself  up. )  ! 

Chas.     David,  what  would  ye? 

David.     I  go  to  meet  my  chains  !  \ 

Rack.     Stay,  grandfather.     This  is  conspiracy.  {He  Pently  resists           ^ 

her  but  she  holds  him  back.)  i 

Nay  /will  out  and  meet  the  Templar  men  alone.  \ 

They  dare  not  touch  her  whom  their  master  loved.  ] 

I  will  proclaim  the  truth  to  them, 

U' alter  is  not  murdered  /    .  \ 

Omnes.     Not  murdered  ?  i 

Rach.     I  have  the  proof  here  in  myself!  \ 

I  have  received  no  warning  of  his  death  /  \ 

Perchance  he  is  in  bonds,  while  we  are  bowed  ] 

Beneath  this  stroke,— ay,  victims  all  of  deep  '\ 

Black  hearted  men.     But  Walter  is  not  dead  !  *               \ 

Hawk.     Not  dead  ?  ^ 

Rach.     {to  Hawkley)  Beware  !  i 

I  see  the  shadows  traced  by  thy  base  hand,  i 

But  deeds  of  darkness  wrought  ^ 

Shall  on  the  housetop  be  proclaimed.    {Exit  Rachel  with  Annettl>            j 

£>av.     I'll  follow  her.     What  matters  it  for  me?  ^ 

If  they  do  thirst  for  Hebrew  blood,  \ 

They  shall  have  mine.      {Exit  David.)  : 

(Hawkley  and  Meg  steal  of.}  \ 

Chas.     Judah,  you  should  have  followed  him.  ^ 

Sir/udah.     It  would  offend  his  princely  mood.  ^ 

He  IS  most  sensitive.      When  braving  wrath  j 

To  shield  his  race  I've  seen  him  awe  a  multitude.  I 

T    P"^*     ^Ir^'^  ^  ^^^^  ^g^^mt  the  Jews,  my  brother  James                               \ 

xs  head  and  front  of  it  {he  looks  of)  i 

'Sdeath  !     They  drive  thy  people  like  a  flock  of  sheep.  \ 

Mob.     [without)  Death  to  the  Jews  !  1 

6'/>>^^/,.     {drawing  his  sword)  Then    be   it   hate  for   hate   and             j 

blood  for  blood  !     {Exit  Sir  ]uT,Ku  followed  by  the  Kmo.)  1 

Enter  Levi  wounded.  \ 

Levi.     The  Christian's  steel  hath  stricken  deep  j 

And  Reuben,  my  son,  is  slain.  \ 

Where  is  my  master  David  ?  i 

The  Gentile  hath  betrayed  him.  \ 


36  BEN  ISRAEL.  [aCT  3. 


Enter  Hebrews,  men,  women   and  children  in  flight.      Ben  Israel 

staggers  after  them  with  blood  on  his  brow.  ; 

Dav.     {speaking  to  the  mob  without  as  he  enters)     Smite  David  yet 

again,  but  spare  his  people  !       {turning  to  the  Hebrews  who  are  gath- 
ered around  Levi)  ' 

I  am  not  what  I  once  had  been  ; 

In  thy  defence,  O,  Jacob  ! 

Reb.     Levi  wounded  ?  "  ■ 

Levi^     And  our  son  Reuben  slain.  : 

Dav.   Levi  wounded  and  the  boy  Reuben  slain  ?  \ 

Then  hath  the  evil  day  returned.  \ 

Enter  Charles,  who  notices  gash  on  David's  brou. 

Chas.     David  art  wounded  deep  ? 

Dav>    {awakened  from  his  lament  and  passionately)  Ay,  in  the  stab 
that  reached  old  Levi's  heart.  \ 

Wounds?     What  have  I  wounds?     I  felt  them  not.  j 

Ben  Israel's  wound  is  in  his  people's  wrongs.  \ 

{touching  his  brow)     This  had  been  naught  though  cloven  to  the  chin      j 
Had  they  been  spared.  I 

Chas.     Give  but  some  proof  of  innocence  and  I  j 

Will  side  with  thee,  Ben  Israel.  \ 

Dav.     What,  Jewish  innocence?  i 

To  Christian  judgment  'twould  be  damning  guilt ! 

What  would  it  weigh  though  I  did  heap  \ 

Volumes  of  protests  'gainst  this  charge?  : 

Am  I  not  forejudged  and  foredoom' d  ? 

Chas.     By  Heaven,  no  !     You  do  wrong  us  there  !  ' 

David.     By  Heaven,  yes  !     And  I  do  wrong  ye  not. 
What  can  I  bring  except  the  murdered  man 
Alive  to  prove  I  killed  him  not  ?    That  were 
Not  possible  if  he  be  dead.    If  not,  then  is  this  charge 
Conspiracy  against  the  Jew,  such  as  .  \ 

Our  people  oft  have  borne,  that  Christian  nobles —  ^ 

Ay,  and  Christian  kings,  might  spoil  our  substance  .j 

And  ourselves  drive  out  to  other  lands, 
To  give  them  quittance  of  our  bonds.  ; 

Chas.    I  say,  by  Heaven,  you  wrong  us,  Jew  !  \ 

David.     And  I,  by  Heaven,  I  wrong  ye  not,  O  king.  ■ 

Enter  Rachel,  passionately  beating  back  the    Templar  men,  who  are     \ 
headed  by  Gabriel  and  with  Meg  urging  them  on, 

Rach.     Back  !    back  !  Touch  not  his  hallowed  head. 


ACT  3.]  BEN  ISRAEL.  37 

Lay  not  a  finger  on  that  sacred  man 

Whose  majesty  of  soul  rebukes  this  violence  ! 

Meg.     Hang  the  Jew.  ' 

Gab.     He  murdered  my  master. 

Rack.     Back  !    back,  I  say  ! 
Appease  your  wrath  on  me  ]      Take  her  who  loved 
Your  master  more  than  all  your  loves  for  him 
Though  heaped  in  one.     Vent  your  fierce  rage 
On  her  who  had  this  day  been  bride  of  him 
You  served,  but  ye  shall  not  e'en  touch 
That  guiltless  man ;     In  pieces  tear  me  first ! 

Enter  Lord  Hawkley. 

Hawk.     Quick,  your  Majesty.     The  Jewish  Quarter  is  on  fire. 
There  is  but  bare  escape. 

E7iter  Sir  Judah. 

Sir  Judah.    There's  none,  villain  !  From  end  to  end  the  fire  meets. 

Meg    comes  cut  of   Ben  IsraeVs  house  exulting.     Fire  seen  pouring 
through  windows. 

Meg.     Aha  !     Behold,  Ben  Israel's  house.     'Twill  be  their  funeral 
pile.      In  With  the  Jewess  witch, 

David,     {advancing  with  Rachel— manner  sublime.  ^      Come  what 
will,  why  let  it  come! 
Our  people's  trust  is  in  the  God  of  Israel. 

TABLEAUX.— 7"/^^  Jewish    Quarter  on  fire.       Hebrew  peopk 
kneeling  around  theit  Prince. 


END  OF  ACT  III. 


^8 


BEN  ISRAEL.  [A€T  4. 


ACT  IV. 


i 

Scene    i.— discovered.      A    court:  Lard  Chief  Justice  presidhig,  sup-      1 

potted  by  two  assistant  judges;  near  them  Charles  II.  in  a  chair      \ 

of  state  for  the  occasion.       Present:  Jews  and  yeomanry  of  Sir     , 

Walter  Templar.      The  trial.  ! 

Ch^J.     Let  the  prisoner, David  Ben  Israel,  be  brought   into  court,     j 

Enter  David,  in  the  costume  of  a  prince  of  his  people.  \ 

Chas.     See,  my  lord,  his  tottering   steps.     This  is  the   third  day's     , 
ordeal.    Let  him  be  seated  where  he  stands.    {David  seats  himself.}         : 

jDav.     Ben  Israel  thanks  ye  for  this  grace.  \ 

Ch.  J.     David  Ben  Israel,  have  you  no  witness? 

Dav.     I  have,  my  lord  i     Mv  people's  history. 

Which,  in  the  volumed  ages  of  the  past,  \ 

Speaks  like  the  awful  voice  of  Sinai  ^ 

Of  what  the  Jew  hath  been,  what  he  hath  borne.  \ 

{Rising.)                                     O,  judge,—  | 
When  Europe  was  unto  the  world  like  some 

Huge  rock,  just  blasted  from  its  native  bed,  ■ 

The  Jews,  the  superstructure  uf  society  i 

Reared  for  their  savage  masters  and  did  mould  ; 

This  civilization  which  ye   have  to-day.  ; 

Our  law,  our  genius  and  our  wisdom,  kept  ; 
And  garnered  through  the  ages  down,  we  gave 

As  oft  our  blood,  the  precious  cement  \ 
Of  this  fabric  raised. 

Your  cities  and  your  marls  of  trade,  ) 

Ay,  the  commerce  of  a  world,  were  first  the  work  \ 

Of  the  despised  Jew.     Yet  when  we  dreamt  \ 

To  find  our  homes  in  lands  we  made  to  thrive,  i 
Our  everlasting  exodus  has  come, 

And  massacre  on  massacre  been  crowned —  , 

Till  men  have  taken  lives  most  dear  to  them  j 
.  In  their  despair,— mothers  with  offspring  lept 

Into  the  sea,  or  down  some  horrid  precipice,  \ 

To  'scape  the  human  monsters  who  pursued,  ,  "; 

Less  merciful  than   death.  I 

And  thus  have  perished  millions  of  my  race  :  , 

And  all  because  the  Jew  is  but  the  Jew  !  j 

Oft  have  I  heard,  e'en  in  my  time,  the  cry            ^^  I 

Which  rang  the  other  day,  "  Bring  out  the  Jew  !  "  \ 

Yet  hath  that  self-same  Jew  been  innocent  as  I.  ■ 


\ 
( 

.ACT  4]                                          BEN  ISRAEL.                                                     39  \ 

1 

My  people's  case  is  mine;  my  circumstantial  crime  ] 

As  theirs;  so  I  have  called  them  up  before  ] 

This  judgment  seat,  my  witnesses,  and  their  ] 

Examples  make  my  advocates.  ) 
Now  judge  ye  all,  for  I  am  but  the  Jew, 

•Guilty  or  innocent,  not  in  mine  act,  ; 

But  in  your  finding.     (David  resumes  his  seat)  > 

Ch.  J      ^^'^  Israel,  the  Court  cannot  gainsay  your  truths^  \ 

Yet  stands  the  charge  of  murder  still  direct  i 

Against  yourself.  j 

Rachel  enters  the  Court  amidst  murmurings. 

Each.     Hold  !    Sir  Walter  is  not  dead  !  \ 

Shouts  from  the  Templar  Men. 

Ch.  J.     The  proof,  lady. 

Rach.     I  am  the  proof.     There  is  a  prophecy  \ 

In  me  that  Walter  lives.     Yea,  he  shall  come  \ 

To  prove  my  words.     O,  I  implore  ye,  do  not  pass  j 

False  jndgment  on  this  reverend  head.                     '  ] 

I  am  a  Hebrew  woman,  and  my  race  ' 

Hath  second  sight.     If  my  beloved  were  dead,  < 

Then  would  he  come  to  me.     I  should  see  him —  ^ 

Hear  him.     He  is  not  dead.     I  know  he  is  not  dead.  \ 
'  Ch.  J.     Poor  lady. 

Rach.     Ha  1     Heard  you  not  that  voice  ?  1 

Chas.     What  voice  ? 

Rach.     It  cried^  hold  the  judgment  1  [ 

Ben  Israel  is  innocent  1  i 

Chas.     Her  grief  hath  overthrown  her  mind.  I 

Rach.     I  am  not  mad,  nor  is  this  good  old  man  \ 

Guiltv  of  taking  life.     The  spirits  of  my  race  ; 

Tell  you,  through  me,  that  Walter  is  not  dead.                                      *  ^ 

See,  grandfather,  your  judges  weep.     The  chains  • 

Have  fallen.     Sirs,  give  way.     We'll  to  our  home.  ;; 

Nay,  nay:   you  shall  not  part  us,  sirs.  ] 

If  justice  be  not  here  as  Heaven's  own  gift,  | 

A  kingdom's  ransom  take  for  justice  to  the  Jew  !  i 

My  lords,  pronounce  !    Is  not  Ben  Israel  free  ?  \ 

Ch.  J.     Bear  her  from  the  Court.                                           ,  | 

Rachel,     [breaking  from  the  officers  and  throwing  herself  at  the  foot  \ 

of  the  judgment  seat.)     Here  will  I  kneel  for  justice  till  the  doom  ^ 
be  past  ! 

Nay  touch  me  not !     Go  on,  my  lord!  \ 


40  BEN  ISRAEL.  [ACT  4. 


Ch.  J.     Gentlemen  of  the  jury,  is  the  prisoner  guilty  or  not  guilty  ? 

Foreman.     Guilty,  my  lord  I     (David  rising.)  ^ 

Ch.  J.     David  Ben  Israel,  the  penalty  is  death.    You  will  be  taken  ! 

back  from  whence  you  came,  and  thence  to  the  place   of  execution  ;  i 

and  may  God  have  mercy  on  your  soul.  j 

David.     Art  thou  a  Daniel,  that  thou  judgest  thus?  j 

Thou  prayest  to  Him  for  mercy,  but  yourself  ■ 
There  in  the  judgment  seat  no  mercy  give. 

We  pray'd  for  justice,  but  ye  gave  it  not.  \ 
Why  mock  ye  us  with  mercy  which  we  ask 

Not  for  ?    The  Jew  is  at  the  bar  for  justice  !  ^ 

Will  ye  give  us  justice  ?     {silence  in  the  court.)  j 

Thy  silence  is  most  potent  answer.  \ 

Take  back  thy  prayer  for  mercy  I 
O,  thou  unjust  judge.     I  will  myself  appeal 

To  Heaven.     But  ask  for  justice  !     Justice!     \^Ficture.'\  \ 


Scene  2. — The  Jewish  Quarter.      Levi  enters,  still  feeble  from  his 
wounds. 

Levi.     The  Christian's  steel  still  festers  in  me. 
And  Reuben  slain.     My  son  r  my  son  \ 
Would  they  had  slain  thy  father  and  spared  thee, 
Reuben,  my  son  !    my  son  r      {Enter  Lord-  Hawklev.) 
Ha  !     Villain  !     Christian  !     Dog  ! 
It  was  thy  steel  that  killed  my  son. 

Hawk.     Dog  to  thee,  Jew.     Yes;  it  was  my  steel 
That  killed  thy  son;  but  what  of  it  ? 
His  was  but  Jew  flesh.     Dost  want  thy  pound 
Of  Christian  flesh  to  pay  it  back. 

Levi.     Ay,  dog  of  a  Christian  \     My  pound  \  my  pound  f  It  is  my 

due  !    My  pound  for  my  son  Reuben's  death  at  thy  hands.       Old  as  I 

am  I'll  take  my  just  pound.     An  eye  for  an  eye;  a  life  for  a  life.     My 

pound;  my  exact  pound.     Thy  life  dog  [     Thy  life,     {^grappling  with 

Hawkley  in  deadly  hate. 

Hawk.     Off  with  thy  hands,  Jew.     {^fierce  struggle. ~\ 

Levi.     My  pound  of  flesh  1       My  pound   for  my  son  1       Thy  life  \ 
Thy  life  !   [Hawkley  throws  Levi  off,  who  is  exhausted.    At  the  same 
moment  Hebrew  families  enter  driven   before    Lord  Hawklef  s 
soldiers. 

Hawl.  [to  his  soldiers']  Scour  up  the  tribe  from  every  den.  Get 
ye  gone  from  England,  murderous  tribe  !  'Tis  the  king's  orders  that 
the  Jews  forthwith  be  banished  from  our  realm. 

I^eb.  [to  Hawkley']  Kill  us  but  drive  us  not  again  from  England. 


ACT 


4.]  BEK  TSKAEL.  4l 


Levi'  \Staggers  to  the  side  of  his  wife  and  again  confronts  Hawkley\  ' 
Shame,  Rebecca,  sue  not  to  the  Christian  for  mercy.      I'll  none  of  it. 

Our  people  have  drank  the   Christian's  cup   of   mercy  to  the   dregs.  | 

Let  them  give  us  justice,  as  our  prince  did  ask.   I'll  have  none  of  their  \ 

mercy  :  none  of  it.  ; 

Hawk.     Begone  \     The  king  hath  banished  your  tribe,  I  tell  ye.  \ 

Enter  Meg. 

Meg.     Ay,   drive   them    hence,    my  son.       'Tis   the  will  of  Holy  , 

Mother  Church.      Drive  tnem  hence,  ^ 

Levi.   \in  scorn']    And  are  ye  its  instruments,  : 

Hawk.     Yes;  Jew.  : 

Levi.     Then  hath  your  Church  vile  servants.  \ 

Hawk.     Dog  !     Begone  with  your  accursed   tribe.       Take  nothing 

but  yourselves.       Your  goods  are  confiscated  to  the  crown.       Away  ^  i 

or  soon  the  mob  shall  be  let  loose  to  hound  ye  out  of  London.  : 

i 

EnierKhCH'^.i.,  with  majesty.  ^ 

Each.     Stay,  men  of  Judah,  stay  !  ] 

Your  Prince  is  captive  ;  but  his  grandchild  lives  ' 

To  lead  you:     True,  but  a  woman  in  the  stead  i 

Of  him  who  was  as  our  great  ancestor  ■ 

In  Judah's  cause.     Yet  is  the  magic  blood  ; 

Pure  in  these  veins,  and  in  m€  wakes  I 

The  spirit  of  my  sires,  [ 

David's  daughter  leads  ye  now,                                                          '  \ 

O,  men  of  Israel!  | 

Hawk,     Then  lead  them  hence.  j 

Eachel.     The  Jews  shall  not  quit  England's  shores,  < 

False  lord,  I  tell  thee  that  our  people  shall  abid-e  1 

Forever  here  in  England.  \ 

Hawk,     It  is  the  king's  commands  that  they  \ 

Be  banished  from  our  realm.  : 

Each.     It  is  a  lying  traitor^s  tongue  that  bays  it.  ' 

Beware,  my  lord  of  Hawkley.  1 

Hawk.     Insolent  outcast !  I 

Each.     I  tell  thee  still  thy  deeds  shall  soon  ' 

Be  published  on  the  housetop.     Ah  !   'twas  thou  ! 

Who  didst  young  Reuben  kill — and  thou  who  didst  \ 

Entrap  the  missing  man.  \ 

Hawk.     Who  told  thee  so?  | 

Each.     The  dead  !  .; 

Hawk.     Ha,  ha  !     Le  them  gab  on,  thou  Jewish  witch  .;  ■: 


42 


BEN  ISKAEL,  [ACT  4. 


But  have  a  care,  or  thou  wilt  burn 

At  Smithfield  yet,  for  talking  to  the  dead. 

J^ach      I  see  a  gibbet  bleached  on  Tyburn  HilL 
'^Tis  thine,  Lord  Hawkley  I 

Hawk.     Thou  hast  dealings  with  the  Evil  One. 

Enter  Sir  Judah. 

Sir  Judah.     What  means  this,  my  lord  of  Hawkley  ? 

Hawk.     Dog  of  a  Jew  thyself.      It  means  thy 
Jews  are  banished. 

Sir  Judah.     By  whose  orders? 

Hawk.     The  king's. 

Sir  Judah.  Hawkley,  thou  art  a  villain  !  Soldiers,  obey  my  or- 
ders;  the  king's  signet  is  my  authority.  Hawkley,  look  well  to  thy 
neck. 

Rach.     ^y,  took  well  to  thy  neck  r     I  see 
The  gibbet  still.     'Tis  thine  I  . 

Hawk.     Witch!     (<f^//.) 

Sir  Judah.  Guards,  you  are  no  longer  needed  here.  {^Exit  soldiers. 
What  brings  you  to  the  Quarter,  Rachel  ? 

Rach  Some  unseen  hand.  I  knew  that  danger  threatened  these, 
and  left  my  grandsire  in  this  dreadful  hour— but  at  his  bidding— for 
he  loves  his  people  better  than  his  own  life. 

Sir  Judah.     Rachel,  the  king  to  night  will  open 
Ben  Israel's  prison  doors. 

Rach  The  blessings  of  our  people  follow  him.  <^She  goes  off  with 
Sir  Judah  Jollowed  by  her  people,  who  shout,  ''Our  prince  shall 
be  delivered  1 ") 

Levi  (who  tarries  a  moment).  I  trust  not  the  Christian's  word, 
though,  perchance  Charles  meaneth  well,  or  Judah  would  not  say  so j 
but  his  Papist  brother  will  not  let  him  give  us  justice.  {^He  ts  seized 
with  an  acute  pang  from  his  wound.)  That  pang  hath  cloven  my  very 
heart.  The  struggle  with  theViUain  hath  re-opened  my  wound.  I  faint 
with  loss  of  blood.     {Staggers  off.      Change.) 

Scene  3.—/^  condemned  cell.     David  discovered  seated  on  a  stool  by 
a  rude  table. 
Dav.     It  doth  repent  me  that  I  sent  the  maid. 
Lest  danger  lurk  about  her  path. 
Yet  is  she  fearless  as  the  lioness. 
How  fares  it  with  our  people? 
Would  Rachel  had  returned. 
Ha  !   footsteps.      'Tis  she  !     {rises  eargerly  to  meet  her.) 


ACT  4.]  BEN  ISRAEL  43 

Enter  Charles. 

Dav.     The  King  J 

Chas.     Ay,  and  with  news  from  the  Jewish  Quarter. 

Dav.     My  heart  is  lodged  there.     Sire,  what  news  ? 
-Keep  me  not  on  the  torture  of  suspense. 
How  is  it  with  them  ? 

Chas.     Thy  nephew  saw  the  soldiers  driving  them  before 
Their  pikes. 

David.     Damned  be  those  pikes,  and  withered  be  the  arms 
That  bore  them. 

Had  I  been  there,  with  but  the  trusted  blade 
That  saved  the  life  of  Maurice  of  Nassau, 
Old  as  I  am,  they  should  have  spiked 
Me  to  the  earth,  ere  touched  my  people. 

Chas.     One  came,  David,  to  th^ir  rescue. 

David.     Thyself!    thyself! 

Chas.     Rachel. 

David.     My  granddaughter?     Brave  girl  1  brave  girl! 

Chas.     A  queen,  by  my  halidom. 

David.     Our  people  will  not  lack  a  leader,  sire^ 
Yet  had  I  hoped  to  see  her  sons. 

Chas.     You  shall. 

David.     Ah  ! 

Chas.     David,  I  am  here  to  set  you  free. 

David.     What  mean  you,  sire? 

Chas.     Near  by  are  those  who  soon  shall  bear 
You  far  away  from  danger. 
David,   {recovering  from   his  momentary  eagerness  a7id  with  proud  in- 

'tegrity.)     It  my  deliverance  hath  come  in  such 
A  form  that  David  might  with  honor  own 
Then  will  I  forth  to  light  of  all  men's  eyes. 
Acquitted  of  this  charge.     If  I  dare  meet 
The  Majesty  of  Heaven  as  face  to  face 
Amid  the  multitude,  not  shrinking  from 
The  blessed  sun:;  if  I  may  stand  before 
The  upright  man  and  hear  his  tongue  pronounce 
The  Jew  worthy  of  life,  then  will  I  forth  : 
But  if  to  shun  the  eye  of  man  or  hide 
For  fear  my  stealthy  steps  should  whispers  make, 
And  lest  the  cry  go  up  to  heaven,  the  Jew 
Is  out  to-day  ! — the  Jew's  abroad  to-night ! 
Beware  the  murderous  Jew  !     Then  will  I  bide 


1 

44  BEX  ISRAEL.  [ACT  4.  j 

Within  my  gloomy  cell,  till  death  shall  end  1 

The  chapter  of  my  woes  !  ; 

C/ias.     Odd's  fish  !     You  shall  to-night  set  sail  for  Holland.  i 

Sir  Judah.     {entering  eagerly)     Uncle,  be  guided  by  the  king. 
I  will  this  villamy  unfold,  but  time 

Is  now  our  need.     I  am  a  Jew —  j 

Aye,  to  the  very  core — but  of  that  stuff  \ 

That  can  return  a  hate  and  execute 
A  debt  of  hate.  . 

Chas.     Quick,  David,  fly.     The  door  is  open.     See  t  j 

You  are  free  ! 

David.     Then  be  it  open  till  my  hour  of  doom.  "^ 

There  need  no  locks  or  bolts  to  keep  \ 

Ben  Israel  in  his  dungeon  walls.  ^ 

His  honor  bars  the  door.  '< 

Chas.     Odd's  fish  1  man,  fly  to  Holland  \ 

Till  the  happier  time.     We  did  as  much  ourself.  \ 

David.     What,  fly  dishonored  ?     Fly  beneath  the  ban  { 

Of  murder?     Have  it  said  it  was  my  gold  ] 

That  turn'd  the  locks  to  let  me  out?  ■ 

I  will  not  so,  O,  king  1  '; 

I  can  the  scaffold  mount,  but  not  bring  shame  ] 

Upon  our  sacred  name  by  flight.  \ 

Charles,  I  would  not  for  thy  crown  : 

Be  tempted  to  thy  kmd  intent. 

Chas.     By  heaven,  old  man,  thou  shalt.  j 

Thy  death  would  haunt  us  in  our  merriest  mood.  \ 

Rachel  <f/2/^r^,  exhausted  and  bewildered. 

Rach.     They'll  not  open  his  prison  doors! 

Dav.     You  see  that  child,  worn  down  with  grief  ; 

And  watching  by  my  side.  i 

Rach.     (^Unconscious  of  their  presence)  The  king  hath  deceived  me.    j 
Dav.     I  thank  thee,  sire,  that  they  did  leave  her  here  i 

To  comfort  me. 

Rach.     Thy'll  not  unbar  his  doors  ! 

Dav      She  shall  decide  for  me. 
Rachel !     Rachel !     Child !     Arouse  thee,  child  !  ; 

Rach.     Grandfather,  I  am  here.  ^ 

The  king?     He  hath  betrayed  us.  \ 

Is  the  dread  hour  come  ? 

Dav.     Nay,  Rachel,  his  majesty  doth  oflfer  life  >     \ 

And  freedom. 


ACT  5.]  BEN  ISRAEL. 

Rack.     Oh,  most  gracious  prince  !   {Returning  animation  ) 
Dav.     Shall  we  take  the  offered  boon  ? 
Hold,  child  !     there  is  a  price. 

Rachel.     A  price  ?     Then  it  is  not  a  boon. 
What  is  the  price  ? 

David.     Nought  of  wrong  to  thee,  but  ill  to  me,. 
If  kind  intent  should  be  pronounced  an   ill; 
The  price  is  flight. 

Rack.     Flight? 

David.     Answer  for  me,  Rachel. 
Shall  it  be  dishonor, 
Or  shall  it  be  death  ? 

Rack.     Death  !   death  !  a  thousand  times  ! 
Death  to  us  all;  but  not  dishonor  ! 

David.     Sire,  thou  art  answered. 
Death,  but  not  dishonor.      {^Picture.l 

END  OF  ACT  IV. 


45 


ACT  V. 

Scene  \.~-The  Dungeon  of  Hawkley  Castle.       Sir  Walter  Templar 
discovered,  lying  on  straw,  chained  to  the  floor. 

Sir  W.     Oh  !  how  I  ache  with  these  rude  stones 
Where  am  I  ?     God  !   it  seems  a  thousand  years 
Since  I  beheld  the  light  of  day. 
My  senses  have  almost  deserted  me. 
The  king  !  ah,  the  king  !   O,  heaven  the  thought 
Of  Rachel  in  his  wanton  power  drives  me 
To  madness,   {pause.)  Ah,  the  king  !    {springs  to  his  feet.-) 
A  moment  smce  I  fancied  we  were  gripped 
In  deadly  strife.     O,  for  an  hour's  sanity 
To  clear  my  path  to  freedom  !     I  have  ground 
My  chains  asunder  with  these  stones. 
One  mighty  effort  more  for  liberty.  * 
They  break  !    I'm  free  !     I  hear  the  iron  doors 
Unlock  and  wake  the  dungeon  echoes.     Yes; 
My  jailor  comes  !   {lies  down  as  before.') 

Enter  Hawkley,  masked. 


46  BEN    ISRAEL.  [aCT  5. 

Hawk.     Madman,  art  tamed  ? 
Sir  W.     Tell  the  king,  thy  master,  no. 
Hawk.     Ha  !  ha  !  the  king  ? 

Sir  W.     I'll  rouse  all  England  'gainst  the  libertine, 
As  England  once  was  roused  against  his  tyrant  sire. 

liawk.     'Twill  be  amongst  Algerian  slaves. 
Within  a  week  you  sail  for  Algiers. 
Sir  W.     For  Algiers  ? 
Hawk.     To  be  sold  for  a  slave. 

Sir  W.    A  slave  !   (Jialf  rising.^  Villain  thou  overreachest   thyself, 
Thy  feet  are  in  thine  own  toils. 
Hawk-     Fool,  thou  mistakest  me. 

Sir  W.  No,  thou  art  the  fool,  lordly  kidnapper.  Thou  over- 
look'st  the  prospect  that  my  friends  would  trace  me  to  thy  castle, 
which  no  doubt  they  have;  and,  therefore,  thou  comest  to  remove  me 
to  cover  up  thy  tracks. 

Hawk.     Fool,  I  say  again,   thou   mistakest   me,       Thou  goest    to 
Algiers  where  thou   wilt    be  sold   for  a  slave,   and  whipped   till   the 
haughty  Templar  shall  crawl   to   his  master   for    mercy,  and  kiss   the 
whip  dripping  with  his  own  blood  to  woo  its  sufferance. 
Sir  W.     Villain  ! 

Hawk.  Templar,  I  hate  thee.  My  vengeance  is  sweet.  If  ere  I 
go  to  Algiers  it  will  be  to  see  thee  whipped. 

Sir  W.  Monster!  thou  art  building  thine  own  gallows,  and,  like 
Haraan,  thou  wilt  hang  on  it. 

Hawk.  Ha  !  ha  !  that  reminds  me  that  Ben  Israel  will  be  hung 
to-day. 

Sir  W.      Ben  Israel  hung  to  day  ! 
Hawk.     For  the  murder  of  Sir  Walter  Templar. 
Sir  JV.     Murdering  me  ! 

Hawk.     Dost  thou  not  see  how  feasible  it  was  to   trace  thy  taking 
off  to  the  Jews?     To  separate  thee  from  Rachel  they  murdered   thee. 
So  it  is  given  out,  and  the  jury  believed  it. 
Sir  W.     Monstrous  ! 

Hawk.     Thy  intended  marriage  was  but  a  Jewish  trick.      So   it   is 
given  out,  I  tell  thee. 
Sir  W.     Hellish  plot  ! 

Hawk.  Thou  art  dead.  Sir  Walter  Templar;  and  Ben  Israel  to-day 
will  be  hung  for  thy  murder. 

Sir  W.  Oh,  monstrous  villain  !  A  crime  without  a  parallel  in 
enormity  !  Sacrifice  that  good  old  man  to  glut  thy  fiendish  malice  ! 
But  I  will  avenge  Ben  Israel.  {He  springs  to  his  feet.) 


ACT  5.]  BEN    ISRAEL.  47 

Hawk.  Damnation  !  his  chains  broken  ?  and  I  unarmed  :  then  am 
I  at  the  mercy  of  this  madman. 

Sir  W.     Pray;  for  thy  hour  hath  come,  or  I  would  send 
Thee  to  the  king  to  tell  him  that  I  go 
To  William,  Prince  of  Orange. 

Hawk.     You  wrong  our  good  king,  on  my  soul. 

Sir  IP.      On  my  soul,  then,  I  will  right  him 
With  William  and  an  army  ! 
Down,  dog,  and  pray. 

Hawk.  Help!  help!  (Sir  Walter  advances  handishing  his 
chains.    Hawkley's  mask  falls  off. 

Sir  ?f .     Hawkley,  as  I  did  think.     On  thy  knees,  villain. 
Then  will  I  teach  thee  first  to  crawl 

Before  I  kill  thee.   {^He  grapples  with  Hawkley  and  forces  him  to  his 
knees.) 

Hawk,     Help  !   Meg,  help  !     (Meg,  steals  in  behind,  with  a  bunch 
of  large  dungeon  keys  in  her  hand.) 
Help  !   Meg,  help  ! 

Sir  W.  {raising  his  chains.)  Thus  do  I  avenge  Ben  Israel.  (Meg 
stnites  Sir  Walter  on  the  head  with  the  keys.  He  falls. 
Hawkley  rises.) 

Hawk.     Is  he  dead,  Meg  ? 

Meg.     At  least  quiet,  my  son.     Aha  ! 

Hawk.  What  is  that?  Men  are  storming  my  castle  !  {Loud bat- 
tering heard.  Shouts.  The  Templar  Men  break  into  the  dungeon^ 
led  by  ]UDAH.) 

Templar  Men.     A  Templar  !    a  Templar  I 

Sir  Judah.     Seize  the  villain  ! 

Hawk.     Villain  in  thy  teeth  ! 

Sir  Judah.     Seize  and  bind  them  both. 

Hawk.  Off  with  your  hands.  {Struggles  fiercely  but  is  overcome.) 
Dog  of  a  Jew  {confrofiting  Sir  Judah,)  still  do  I  triumph  !  Dog  of  a 
Jew,  I  say,  though  thou  bear'st  a  knightly  handle  to  thy  name.  I'll 
yet  have  thy  accursed  tribe  driven  from  England.  I  swear  it  by 
Heaven  ! 

Sir  Judah.     Thou  meanest  by  hell. 
Hawk.     Aye,  by  hell,  then. 

Sir  Judah.  Hawkley,  I  will  deal  with  thee  hereafter.  {Cares  for 
Sir  IP  alter.)     He  revives. 

Sir  IP.     Sir  Judah  in  my  dungeon  ? 

Sir  Judah.     Aye,  to  the  rescue. 

Sir  H".     I  must  have  been  struck  senseless  in  the  melee. 


48                                                       J^EN  ISRAEL.                                           [act  5,  \ 

Hawk.    Haste  with  thy  wits,  imbecile,  or  you  will  not  be  in  tin^e  to  , 

see  the  old  Jew  hung.  i 

Sir  W.   {springing  up)     Monster  !    I  remember.     Ben  Israel  hung  !  | 

Hawk,     Before  you  can  rescue  him.     Aha  ! 

Meg.     Aha,  my  son  !  ; 

Sir  W,     Monster,  if  1  arrive  not  in  time,  thou  thyself  shall  hang  !  j 

Now,  Templars  to  the  rescue  of  Ben  Israel !  i 

{^Picture  :     Sir  l^  alter  dashing  out  leading  his  men  is  on  the  threshold  \ 

of  the  dungeon;  Hawkley  and  Meg  malignant  in  the  hands  of  their  \ 

.    captors.    Sir  Judah,  self  poised,  commands  the  scene.      Change.)  \ 

Scene  2.— Room  in  the  Mansion  of  the  Jewess.     Enter  Reuben  and  \ 

Rebecca.  i 

Levi,     Sayest  thou  so,  Rebecca?      Did  Rachel  dream  she  saw  her  | 
lover  alive  in  Hawkley  dungeon? 

Reb.     I  said  so,  Levi.     She  saw  him  alive  but  in  bondage.      Thou  \ 

knowest,  Levi,  she  hath  the  second  sight;  so  had  her  mother.  1 

Levi.     Aye,  the  Daughter  of  the  Voice  hath   followed  David's  race  | 

through  all  their  generations.    Yet,  I  do  mistiust  our  Rachel's  dream,  ! 

lest  her  love  distraught  by  grief,  hath  conjured  up  these  fancies.  j 

Reb.     Nay,  Levi,  it  was  the  second  sight  of  her  race.  \ 

Levi.     Yet    what  matters  it   if  Judah   rescue   him   not,  or  should  ! 

come  after  our  master  is   hung?      Ha  !    what  cries  are  those  in  the  ; 

street?     (Looks  off  and  listens.)       A  multitude   surround   the   house,  \ 

shouting,  Hang  the  Jews !     Brmg  them  all  out  and  hang  them  with  < 

their  master!      (^Cries  of  rage  heard  from  without.')      Father    Abra-  , 
ham,   the  rabble  will   beat  the   house  down   about  our  heads.     The 

door  gives  way.     They  rush  within.       Ha  !    some  one  on  horse  rides  j 

down  the  rabble  and  drives  them  back  with  his  sword,  which  he  lays  j 

about  them  stoutly.       'Tis  the   king   himself.      Now,  by  the  staff  of  ; 

Jacob,  for   once   I   will   confess   we  owe  a  debt  of  good  deeds  to  a  ^ 

Christian.  1 

Reb.     Our  people's  blessing  be  on  the  king  and  all  his  house. 

Levi.     Nay,  nay;  not  on  all  his  house.     Not  on  his  brother  James,  j 

who  is  the  cause  of  these  our  ills.     On  him  our  people's  curse !     If  i 
our  master   hangs  to  day;  to-hiorrow  let  James  of  York  and  all  his 

friends  who  owe  us  moneys,  let   them   look  to  their   bonds— let  them  \ 

look  to  their  bonds  !  .; 

Enter  the  King  with  Rachel. 

Chas.     'Sdeath,  Rachel,  we  come  on  the  scene  but  just  in  time  to 

save  your  mansion,  and  perchance   your  lives  and   our  kingly  honor,  i 

Bv  the  mass,  'tis  time  we  frown  our  brother  James  to  good  behavior.  , 

\ 
I 


^<^T  5.]                                             BEN  ISRAEL.                                                         49  I 

Believe  me,  Rachel,  the  king  hath   no  hand   in   this  crusade  against  ] 

your  people;  in  proof  of  which   I  am  here  now  to  serve  you.     Your  1 

uncle  Judah  told  me  of  your  dream.  I 

J^ac/i.     And  you  believed  it,  sire.  ■ 

Chas.     At  least  I  heeded  it.     Tell  me  thy  dream  thyself.  ■. 

Rack.     Wrought  to  an  agony  of  mind  last  night 

By  the  approachmg  doom,  I  fell  into  a  trance.          '  \ 

It  was  as  thougli  the  hand  of  death  was  laid  ■ 

On  me;    for  then  methought  my  spirit  left  :' 

Its  clay,  and,  on  the  other  side,  i 

My  mother  greeted  me.  \ 

She  took  me  by  the  hand  ;  away  we  sped  -^ 

To  Hawkley  Castle,  nor  did  stop 

Until  we  came  unto  an  iron  gate  ! 

Through  which  we  passed.  \ 

O,  sire,  what  think  you  then  we  saw  ?  i 

Chas.     What,  Rachel  ?  '\ 

Rack.     Sir  Walter  Templar  !  \ 

Chas.     I^  this  no  phantasy?  \ 

Rack.     x\o,  no!     Did'st  send  a  troop,  your  majesty  ?  ' 

Chas.     Of  my  own  guards.     Your  uncle  Judah  leads  them  ^ 

Rach.     All  will  be  well.                                                            '  ^ 

Chas,     Yet  come  they  not.  i 

Rach.     You  gave  authority  to  storm  the  castle  ?  ^ 

Chas.     Yes,  if  Hawkley  dared  resistance  to  his  king  i 

'Tis  near  the  time !                                                           ^'  \ 

Rach.     I  was  oblivious  of  the  time.  1 

O,  sire,  send  fresh  horses  out  to  meet  them.                                        -  \ 

Chas.     I  will.  '\ 

Rach.     Haste,  sire,  haste  !    in  Heaven's  name  haste.  I 

{Exeunt  quit k/y.     Change.')  ' 

'"^Jl^c^"'^  '"''■     ^'^'^"'^  '"  ^'^^^-'^     ^»^'-  LEV,  i 

Ji^d       Woe  to  our  people!     David,  our  prince,  will   be  hune  to  ^ 

ttn"',  !,»'  'w   ^'"''''  "''"  '"'^   °"^  prince  murdered  by  tlie  Chrt  '> 
tian  s  law.     Woe,  woe  to  our  people !                                   '         '-nris- 

Levi.     An  eye  for  an  eye,  a  tooth  for  a  tooth.    But  these  Chri^f.n.  ' 

mock  us  m  the  execution  of  the  law  they  copy  from  us      Ave  ?n  ^ 
for  an  eye,  a  tooth  for  a  tooth  I     So  will   I  render  t'h.ll'       ^^^ 

them;  I  swear  it  by  the  God  of  Jacob  I                                 '^"'  'S'^'"''  \ 


50  BEN  ISKAEL.  [aCT  5. 

Enter  David,  with  the  Governor  of  the  prison, 

Levi.     Alas,  my  prince.     {Seizes  his  hand  in  anguish  and  kisses  it^ 
as  docs  also  Rebecca.') 

David.  Levi  !  Rebecca!  God  be  praised  that  I  see  ye  both  again. 
Sob  not  thus  old  friend.  All  is  well  with  thy  master.  'Twill  be  but 
a  moment's  pang.     Bear  my  dying   blessing  to  our  people.     {David 

puts  his  servants  aside  and  calmly  surveys  the  scene. ) 
How  sweet  the  balmy  breath  of  June  which  fans 
My  fevered  brow.     The  sluggish' blood. 
Parched  by  the  prison  atmosphere,  courses  once  more 
With  promises  of  health.     I  seem  to  live, 
Not  die,  to-day.     O,  glorious  sun  ! 
O,  blessed  air  !     O,  thrice  more  blessed  liberty — 
Without  which  sun  and  air  and  all  the  world 
Are  nought — I  have  thee  now  to-day  ! 
O,  liberty  !     I  praise  thee  with  exultant  voice : 
Nor  doth  that  scaffold,  though  it  frowns  agains    my  life, 
Make  thee  less  dear ;  for,  if  I  mount  it  soon, 
Then  shall  I  speed  away  to  freedom  limitless. 

Eniet  Rachel. 

Rachel.     Grandfather!      {Rushing  iiito  David' s  arms.) 

David.     Rachel,  weep  not. 
Why  weepest  thou  that  I  have  joy  ? 

Rach.     Oh,  my  grandfather  ! 

David.     I  feel  a  majesty  I  never  felt  until  this  hour. 
To-day  I  am  above  the  king  of  this  proud  land  ; 
For  I  to-day  shall  meet  the  King  of  Kings, 
And  join  my  fathers  who  have  gone  before. 

Rach.     They  come  not — they  come  not ! 

David.     They'll  come  to-morrow. 

Rach.     To-morrow  !     Oh,  what  will  their  coming  be  to  thee  ? 

David.     They  will  bring  proof  of  David's  innocence. 

Rach.     To-morrow ! 

David.     Thou  shalt  a  mighty  throb  ot  joy  for  me 
Take  to  thy  heart — 

Rach.     To-morrow ! 

David.     And  know  it  is  the  throb  of  joy 
That  I  shall  feel  when  men  shall  own 
That  I  was  worthy  life,  yet  dared  to  die. 

Rachel.     If  they  come  not  in  time  to  save  thy  life, 
Let  them  come  not  all,  or  come  to  find 
Me  dead,  that  they  may  bury  us  together; — 


ACT  5.]  BEN  ISRAEL.  51 

Then  confess  we  both  were  worthy  not  to  live, 
Life  being  all  unworthy  thee. 

Dav.     Rachel,  thou  art  young,  while  I  am  but 
The  withered  oak  at  best.      'Tis  nothing  when  I  fall : 
To-day,  to-morrow — 'tis  the  same. 

Rack.     Why  come  they  not  ? 
They  should  have  been  here  hours  ago. 

David.     I  scarce  have  left  e'en  the  desire  for  life — 
Except  for  thee — and  all  is  now  become 
One  infinite  desire  for  thee  to  live. 
That  David's  race  might  not  die  out. 

Rack.     They  come  not !  they  come  not  ! 

DaV'  {with  solemn  severity,  forcing  her  attention.)  Rachel,  I  charge 
thee  by  our  sacred  blood  ; — 
I  charge  thee  by  our  fathers'  God; 
I  charge  thee  by  thy  hope  to  meet  me  in 
The  paradise  to  come — to  live  ! 
Give  me  thy  promise,  Rachel  ! 

Rachel.     Here  on  my  knees,  before  our  fathers'  God, 
With  outstretched  hands  to  heaven,  I  promise  thee — 
And  swear  by  all  my  hopes  that  I  will  live — 
And  by  my  hopes  that  I  may  meet  thee 
In  the  world  to  come — I  swear 
If  they  do  put  thee  to  an  ignominious  death, 
I  will  exact  such  recompense  from  those 
Who  are  the  cause  that  thou  shalt  not  have  died 
In  vain.     My  brain  shall  plot,  our  people  execute, 
Until  by  gold  they  hold  the  fate  of  nations. 
And  the  power  to  root  from  earth 
That  church  accursed  ! — accursed  ! — accursed  ! 
By  ages  of  our  people's  wrongs,      {Levi  kneels  and  lifts  his  hands^ 

silently  confirming  Rachel s  oath.) 
I  swear  it  by  the  God  of  Israel. 

Bell  tolls.     Enter  Governor  and  Chaplain  for  the  execution.     Rachel 
starts  to  her  feet,  shrieks  and  swoons. 

David,     {kneeling  over  her.)      Now  can  I  be  one  of  earth  again, — 
A  moment  with  my  soul  in  agony 
Of  love  lingering  over  thee,  my  child; 
And  in  that  moment  brought  an  age 
Of  yearning  for  thee  here  which  I  shall  feel 
When  I  am  there  I 

Oil  !  I  cannot  part  from  thee  when  now  the  time 
.Hath  come  to  part.     I  am  as  weak  as  thee 


52  BEN    ISRAEL.  [aCT  5.      ] 

Now  thou  art  all  insensible  to  it.  J 

This  death-like  semblance  of  what  I  shall  be  j 

When  thou  awakest  child,  wrings  tears  from  eyes  • 

I  thought  had  none  to  weep.     We  must  part  now  j 

While  thou  art  thus  !                                                  .  i 

One  more  embrace  and  then—   {raises  her  and  kisses  her  )  , 
Take  her,  take  her  !   for  I  can  bear  no  more.     {Levi  and  Rebecca  take    \ 

Rachel  and  bear  her  off. )  i 

Lead  on,  for  I  am  ready  !  | 

Charles  enters  quickly,  followed  by  Hebrews.  j 

Chas.     Hold  !     A  pardon  for  David  Ben  Israel.  j 

Hebrews.     A  pardon  !     A  pardon  !  i 

Chas.     David,  in  spite  of  James  and  those  who  hedge 

About  my  throne,  thou  shalt  not  die.    {He  is  about  to  give  the  pat  don    \ 

to  the  Governor.  i 

David.     Let  me  see  it,  sire.     {Charles  gives  it  to  him. 

As  I  did  think — a  pardon  for  the  murder  !  | 

May  I  do  with  this  as  it  seemeth  best  to  me?  i 

Chas.     'Tis  yours  ;  'tis  your  life's  value  !  j 

David.     Nay,  my  king,  not  my  life's  value.  ■ 

For  if  I  did  the  murder,  then  am  I  | 

Not  worthy  this;  if  I  am  guiltless,  then  \ 

Is  this  not  worthy  me  !     I  take  thy  gift,  \ 
My  king,  and  thank  thee  with  a  fuller  heart — 
Thus—  X'^M's,— {calmly  tears  it)  than  I  could  thank  thee. 
Did  I  let  this  be  ransom  for  my  life ! 

Chas.     By  Heaven  !  it  is  nut  worthy  thee. 
Nor  I  to  stand  a  king  before 

Thy  native  majesty,     reverently  uncovers.  j 

Dav.     What  is  my  life  weighed  'gainst  my  nation's  shame  ?  ; 

My  people  have  outlived  a  thousand  dooms  !  ; 

Lead  on  !  • 

Rach.     {rushing  in)     I  charge  ye   in  the  name  of  Heaven  to  stay  !    ; 
Ten  minutes  grace  !     Walter  will  be  here  ! 
Grace  !  grace  !     Ten  minutes  grace  ! 

Chas.     Stay  the  execution  !     'Tis  your  king's  command  !  , 

Rach.     Saved  !  saved  !     They  come  !  they  come  !  j 

I  see  them  coming  riding  like  the  wind  !  \ 
Ride,  Walter,  Ride  !     {shouts.) 

Hark  !  their  shouts.     Again  !  again  !  j 
Walter  !  Walter  !    He  comes  ! 


- 1  ^ 

ACT  O.J                                           BEN  ISRAEL,  53             ^ 

Sir  IV.     {rushing  in  followed  by  Judah  and  the  Templar  Men')  \ 

Rachel  !   Rachel  !  ' 

My  God  that  scaffold  and  Ben  Israel  about  to  mount  it.    What  a  scene            ^ 

in    which  to  claim  my  Hebrew  bride;    but  thus   to  hold  thee  to  my            '' 

heart,  dear  Rachel,  transforms  it  all  to  paradise.  i 

Rachel.     Yes  joy,  joy,  dear  Walter,  \ 

The  curse  is  lifted.     Joy,  joy  !  1 

Chas.     Then  Rachel's  dream  was  true.  ^ 

This  is  marvelous  !  ! 

Bav.     Ay,  king  of  England,  thou  shalt  marvels  see.  ; 

There  is  a  spirit  in  our  sacred  race,  i 

Which,  fan'd,  shall  send  a  blaze  o'er  all  the  earth.  \ 

Our  seers  shall  rise;  our  psalmists  sing;                    *  \ 
Our  Solomons  give  wisdom  to  the  world, 
And  every  land  shall  bless,  not  curse,  the  Jew,     {Picture.)     ■ 

CUR  TAIN.  *               \ 

END  OF  BEN  ISRAEL. 


V.C  1 0207 


741069 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  UBRARY 


